With recent rain raising concerns among residents, the City of Portage la Prairie has confirmed that mosquito activity remains exceptionally low thanks to proactive efforts and unusually dry weather conditions this spring.
Paul Ziesmann, Superintendent of Public Works for the City of Portage la Prairie, says the city is already well into its comprehensive mosquito control program, which includes larviciding, trapping, and when necessary, spraying.
"Our actual mosquito program started about a month ago," said Ziesmann. "We have a three-phase approach here in Portage. We partner with an outside contractor to target areas with historically standing water, which we larvicide early to control the mosquito population before it becomes a problem."
The city also runs its own internal trapping program, operated by the Parks Department. Traps have been in place for several weeks and are checked regularly to monitor mosquito populations.
"Right now, we're in that beginning phase, the larviciding and trapping phase," Ziesmann explained. "Our mosquito numbers are very, very low at this point. Even with the recent rains, it's been a particularly dry year, and we haven't seen the kind of standing water that typically drives mosquito growth."
Still, officials are keeping a close eye on conditions. The city is prepared to act if mosquito populations begin to rise.
"If the trap numbers dictate it, and we reach certain thresholds, then we would start talking about spraying," Ziesmann said. "That decision also depends on other factors like weather conditions. The wind and temperature need to be right for the spraying to be effective."
Residents who have noticed a few mosquitoes may be experiencing localized pockets where conditions are wetter than usual, but the overall outlook remains positive.
"It hasn't been as bad as it usually is,” said Ziesmann. "We've had some rain, but nothing significant enough to raise alarm."
City officials will continue to monitor trap counts weekly, adjusting their response as needed.
For now, Portage la Prairie residents can breathe easy and enjoy their outdoor activities without the buzz and bites that typically come with early summer.