SAN ANTONIO – Jessica Evans, a resident of the Willow Park community in the East Side, keeps a tidy yard and is conscientious of emptying any standing water on her property.
But, just outside her property line is a huge pothole and a luscious greenway with tall grass.
“You can see right here the little larvae running around, so you might as well be at the creek,” Evans said, pointing to the pocket of water.
This is just a small example of the problems plaguing neighborhoods across the city and county that are contributing to the mosquito boom.
The City of San Antonio Vector Control Program has been flooded with calls from residents complaining about the mosquitoes in their area.
Joel Lara, with the city, says it doesn’t take much water to draw mosquitoes. Even just a small amount on a bottle cap can be a breeding bed for the larvae.
“After the recent rains and the warm up in the temperatures, we’re starting to see more mosquitoes out there,” he said.
The freeze did nothing to kill them off, and the recent downpours are fueling their vengeful comeback.
“They’re very resilient. They’re just like any living organism -- they want to survive. So they’re always seeking shelter nutrients. And of course, that water that they need to develop,” Lara said.
Renee Green, with Bexar County Public Works, said crews have been busy fogging public and unincorporated areas in the evening. But residents are vital in helping to reduce the mosquito population.
“Do your part by turning over containers that hold water around your property. If you collect rain water, make sure you have a mesh on it,” Green said.
Both city and county teams have set out mosquito traps to track the population and test for any diseases.
If you have a problem in your neighborhood with mosquitoes that you want the city or county to investigate, you can reach the city at 311.
You can also reach out to the Bexar County Public Works Service Centers at (210) 631-0220, Southtown Service Center at (210) 631-0200 and the Judson Service Center at (210) 631-0240.
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Buzz off! Metro Health offers advice to prevent mosquito bites, breeding after rains