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Community Corner

Maple Grove Gets Triple Dose of Mosquito Control This Summer

Despite mosquito control efforts by Metropolitan Mosquito Control District this summer, consider personal protection as well.

It’s the time of year to head outdoors, whether it's camping, swimming or grilling out. It’s all fun, until the pesky mosquito shows up.  

Professional dog walker Sheryl Smith knows that all too well. She says the mosquitoes are making her job difficult. 

"It’s horrible. Every time I take the dogs out, I get eaten alive,” said Smith. 

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The mosquito season got off to a late start due to a longer winter. With all the spring rains, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) says they have to work a little harder this summer to decrease the mosquito population. 

“Here in Minnesota, we have a long standing issue with mosquitoes due to so many potholes and bodies of water - a perfect breeding spot for mosquitoes," MMCD Public Affairs Associate Mike McLean said.

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According to the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD)  website, they provide a "variety of services to 2.7 million people living in an area covering 2,800 square miles in the seven county Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota metropolitan area," including Hennepin County and Maple Grove.

MMCD started spraying for mosquitoes in May and is still working to keep the mosquito population in manageable numbers not only because of their annoyance, but also for disease prevention. 

“The annoyance of hungry mosquitoes puts a real damper on any picnic or walk in the park,” McLean said. 

The MMCD uses three different methods to decrease the mosquito population in Maple Grove and area communities throughout the season. During early morning hours, McLean says they have employees wearing backpacks, spraying a treatment and hitting targeted areas. At night, trucks are used to spray a cold-fog that covers larger gathering areas, such as parks or baseball fields. Helicopters have also been used to drop pellets to kill mosquito larva and prevent the hatching of future mosquitoes.

McLean says the two larvicides, Bti and methoprene, pose no danger to people, pets, or wildlife, even if they drink the water.

"Of course, for safety we want the kids and animals to stay clear while we are making a treatment," said McLean.

MMCD has been focused on several areas in and around Maple Grove this summer. According to McLean, treatment information is posted on the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District at least a day before the scheduled treatment and can be accessed at http://www.mmcd.org/adult.html. He advises to visit and click on the most recent treatment schedule for northern Hennepin County. People can also sign up on for to receive an email treatment.

For the evening of Wednesday, July 13, mosquito treatment in Maple Grove includes a cold-fog treatment south and west of Fish Lake Road west/east of Zanzibar/north of Bass Lake Road and south of Weaver Lake Road/west of Lawndale/north of Bass Lake Road, according to McLean.

"In addition, a daytime treatment is scheduled tomorrow [July 14] near the intersection of Fish Lake Road West and Ranchview Lane North in Maple Grove," he said.

The organization also has an interactive map for homeowners to see which sites in their city have been treated.

“Knowing there are going to be lots of summer plans outside near the lakes and parks, we really tried targeting areas where we thought people might be gathering,” said McLean. 

McLean says if you have plans this summer to be outside, he highly recommends buying any anti-bug spray, lotion or repellent you can find.

“Although we’ve been spraying and using the foggers, we only bring the mosquito population down to a manageable number. You still have to protect yourself,” said McLean.

Here are some tips from the MMCD website to help deal with mosquitoes around your home:

  • Remove or empty water-holding containers
  • Trim vegetation where adult mosquitoes rest
  • Avoid going outdoors during dusk and early morning
  • Wear loose light colored clothing
  • Use repellents and insect control products.
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