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Mosquito abatement crews start early

Posted at 6:51 PM, May 01, 2012
and last updated 2012-05-01 20:51:40-04

DAVIS COUNTY -- They come out every spring, but this year mosquitoes are biting sooner than usual. That has abatement crews working to curb mosquito populations.

FOX 13 followed Davis County abatement crews Tuesday as they try to eliminate as many new mosquitoes as possible.

“The early numbers of mosquitoes were higher than we've seen, than we've ever seen," said Davis County Mosquito Abatement manager Gary Hatch.

Davis County Mosquito Abatement says they were surprised at the early appearance of mosquitoes.

"A lot of that was because of such a mild winter, there wasn't a lot of die off during the winter,” said Hatch.

Early warm temperatures this year means those hibernating mosquitoes woke up sooner.

Abatement crews hit the water early Tuesday spraying mosquito eggs with a bacteria-based solution. The bacteria targets only mosquitoes.

“We've already done a number of aerial applications for mosquito larvae. A lot of years, such as last year, we didn't do any larval applications until right now, almost May,” said Hatch.

Abatement managers say to stay indoors at dusk to avoid mosquitoes -- that's when they most often come out. And if there is any standing water, to either get rid of it or to make sure it is treated by abatement crews for mosquitoes.