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Happy Holidays from SMCMVCD!
From the District staff, Happy Holidays! We hope you have a safe and festive holiday season and a wonderful New Year.
Holiday Visitors from the Great Outdoors

Everyone likes to be cozy in the winter, and neighborhood wildlife is no exception. Animals like raccoons, opossums, and skunks can find it hard to resist the tempting warmth of your attic or crawl space. Now is a great time to check your vents and other openings to make sure they're tightly sealed against animal intruders. Don't forget areas under decks and porches and on top of roofs - skunks are great at digging and raccoons love to climb. Even your pet door can provide access to an inquisitive animal if left unsecured at night.

If you think you already have an animal in or under your home, you can hire a professional to help remove it. However, you may be able to evict the animal on your own. You can make the space less attractive by knocking on walls or floors, playing a radio in the attic or crawl space, or simply shining a bright light inside to convince the animal to move on. Once you're sure it's outside, seal up any access points so the animal can't get back in.

Need advice on a wildlife problem? Give us a call. Our technicians can provide a free inspection to help you figure out what's causing your problem and how to convince it to move out.

News
Holiday Office Hours
The District office will be closed for the holidays on December 24th and 25th and on January 1st. View the District calendar.
West Nile Virus Update
As of December 1st, no dead birds, mosquito samples, or sentinel chickens have tested positive for West Nile virus in San Mateo County this year. Statewide, West Nile virus has been detected in 33 counties in California and there have been 196 human illnesses, including 6 fatalities, in 2019. Read more.
Mosquito Population Update
Adult mosquito counts for all species continue to decline as we progress into the cooler season. Culex pipiens, the northern house mosquito, was the most abundant mosquito collected this month and was collected in above average numbers. The most frequently occurring species in larval samples was Culiseta incidens, the cool weather mosquito. Read more.
Our Work by the Numbers
In November, technicians responded to 119 resident service requests, including 16 reports of mosquitoes or standing water, 57 yellowjacket and wasp nests, and 24 rodent inspections. Read more.
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Board Meeting Materials
Finance Reports
Rainy Season Reminder
With the first steady rains, many people expect the end of mosquito-biting season. As temperatures drop below 55 °F, many species of mosquitoes become less active and enter a hibernation state called diapause during the winter. However, other species can remain active throughout the year seeking protective harborage such as underground drainage systems, buildings and vegetation.

In the Bay Area with its milder climate, some native mosquito species will actively bite and continue to breed during the winter months. Two of these species are called the cool weather mosquito (Culiseta incidens) and the winter marsh mosquito (Culiseta inornata) which breed in cleaner water sources such as fishponds and fountains, as well as in marshes and ponds. Although they are most noticeable during the summer months, the northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens) can breed year-round in underground storm drain systems and bite people during the winter. Larvae of the California or “winter” salt marsh mosquito (Aedes squamiger) start to develop at this time of year as salt marsh pools are diluted by rain. This species usually will not emerge as biting adults until late February or March when they can become a very aggressive biting pest.  

Of particular concern are container-breeding invasive species of Aedes mosquitoes, which have expanded their range throughout southern and central California over the past few years. Although not currently found in San Mateo County, Aedes aegypti were detected in Sacramento and Stanislaus counties in 2019. These mosquitoes have been known to breed indoors in houseplants such as bromeliads and lucky bamboo. If you encounter a high number of mosquitoes indoors, please call the District for an inspection.

In between rain events, residents should continue to be diligent with dumping and draining all containers that hold water. Clean out rain gutters to avoid blockages. If you would like to schedule an inspection of your property for mosquito breeding sources, call (650) 344- 8592 or make a service request online.
Copyright © 2019 San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District, All rights reserved.


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