What about them using the mosquito donuts made with Bacillus thuringiensis? That is what we use down here before, during, and after storms. Far less dangerous than other chemicals.

mimidi
I thought the same thing the moment I heard that announced on one of the news programs. A few years ago I would never have thought twice about that now I am very conscience about insecticides and pesticides with relation to wildlife. Maybe we should tell them to import tons of hummers and other insect eating birds to the area to eat the mosquitos.

Last year when we had a very very wet spring and summer, our city was going to spray for mosquitos due to the threat of disease etc. but for whatever reason they never did (thank God). I was in panic mode trying to figure out how to protect my yard from the spray so that it didn't affect my hummerz, plantz or feedrs.

Penny

I know what you mean about not giving such things a second thought at one time. I was the same way and now get all bent out of shape when I hear of this spraying. Saturday we had a crop dusting plane spraying a peanut field near my house. Wish I could keep my little friends here in my yard.

This is some good information on mosquito control, and I know that there are some people that are not familiar with the mosquito donates, so here is some more information about them:

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis infects and kills mosquito larvae. It must be consumed by the larvae and acts as a stomach poison, damaging mid-gut cells of mosquito larvae. It is highly selective, killing only mosquitoes and larvae of a few other related flies. This pesticide is marketed in a variety of formulations for the home owner, the most common being the Mosquito Dunk, a donut-shaped float that lasts for about 30 days in water.

Rockport, where I live, is located on a peninsula, surrounded by Copano and Aransas Bays. The reason the county uses the mosquito donuts made with Bacillus thuringiensis is because it is relatively harmless compared to other mosquito controls. I live 50' from a salt water bay, and I avoid using pesticides and such and always have avoided them.

So with Louisiana having the problems that they are having with mosquitoes (the mosquito is often referred to at the state bird of Louisiana), I would hope that they will consider a safer way of getting ride of the mosquitoes.

And I just want everyone to know that we are a Hummer House on the Rockport Hummer/Bird Celebration, and the hummers are going crazy down here. I have 24 feeders out that I'm refilling 3 times a day. I live on an acre of land with lots of native plants, and I estimate that I have somewhere around 50 ruby throats now. We do everything to encourage the little birds, and they come through here by the thousands. And therefore, using the mosquito donates is a safe way to take care of mosquitoes with harming wildlife.

lt
I doubt La. will use the donuts. They are going to go for the cheapest and fastest method but I agree I wish they would use them also. When we lived in La. before moving north I used to dread the trucks coming around to spray every summer and like mimidi mentioned the crop dusters flying overhead.

Penny

I'm really happy that they don't do the aerial spraying down here, but about twice a year the mosquito spraying truck comes through. I just dread them.

Oh well, I do wish it could be an alternative to spraying.

Spraying for mosquitoes is a fact of life in south Louisiana. Anyone have information on mortality rates for birds and other wildlife as a result of those practices?