To Spray or Not To Spray

While we inform you, the decision is yours.

 

The Department of Agriculture has begun a somewhat-weekly spraying of insecticide in our neighborhood on Monday evenings. You can find more information about the program here: https://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/pages/mosquito_control.aspx

The Department claims they spray such a fine mist that bees are not affected when the bees awake the next day. No mention is made of other insects. 

If you wish to opt out of spraying, you can fill out the attached form completely and mail or email it. Your property and a 300’ buffer will be excluded (we hope). Only if a public health emergency arises will the exclusions be over-ridden.

Program Supervisor
Mosquito Control Section
50 S. Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD  21401

Mosquito.control@maryland.gov 

In my experience, the best insulator against mosquito breeding is to remove all standing water. Take a walk around your property after a rain (I wish we had more) and empty all bits and places where water stands. Under plant pots, bird baths, pails, buckets are obvious places.

Additional Notes:
Our community was added to the MDA spraying list at the request of a resident. Anyone can make the request. MDA checks for elevated mosquito levels before fogging but we do not yet know the location where the check was made.

This map from MDA shows exempted (yellow) areas in our neighborhood. If your address is not exempt and you wish it to be, send in the form.