SASKATOON – Now that the snow is finally gone, Saskatoon seems to have quickly turned into spring, which comes with pesky problems all on its own.
Pools of melted snow are lying in ditches, fields and backyards are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
“We’re already out, so it’s larger the first and second larval stages. So quite young they go thru 4 stages of development. The waters still fairly cool, so it does take them awhile to develop but they are active but what we’re seeing now is nuisance mosquitoes,” said Geoff McLeod, city of Saskatoon urban forestry superintendent.
Spring runoff is perfect for the development of mosquitoes and McLeod says they also like areas with taller grass and water.
“In 2011 we did notice that when the water levels rose on the South Saskatchewan. We also saw pooled areas that we couldn’t access to treat and we saw a lot of mosquito development come out of there. So depending on how that plays out and it also depends on if we do see a lot of precipitation,”
McLeod hopes it’s going to be a good year but says Mother Nature will dictate that.
Mosquito traps are expected to be put out next week.
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