As we roll into the summer months, the head of Steinbach's Parks and Recreation Department says they have kicked off their larviciding program. 

Russ Dyck says his staff have begun monitoring standing water. 

“The process is actually fairly simple, we just have a dipper that we dip into the water and see what larvae come out, so it's a simple visual check for larvae being present. And then, if there's no larvae present, we don't apply any larvicide.” 

Dyck notes Steinbach uses an environmentally friendly larvicide that doesn't harm any other bug or animal species. 

We have had a wet spring, but Dyck notes that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a bad year for mosquitoes. 

“It's been relatively dry over the last few years, so I think there's still some opinion that a lot of the water will soak away once it actually does stop raining every other day. It all depends on how much rain still comes.” 

a puddle in the grassWith a wet spring, there is more standing water than normal

In addition to the larviciding that is taking place, Dyck encourages residents to help keep mosquito populations low here in Steinbach this coming summer.  

“A lot of the property, obviously, in Steinbach is private property. So, the city would go in and do any larviciding. Residents and property owners can help by making sure their barrels are covered with a screen if they have rain barrels and so forth. Bird baths, or any other standing water that might be out in the yard, make sure that's dumped, eaves troughs, make sure they're cleaned out so there isn't water sitting in there.” 

Dyck notes those are all mosquito breeding grounds and getting rid of that standing water will help with the big picture.