Bay County Mosquito Control 2026 Spring Aerial Treatment Program

 

Bay County Mosquito Control will begin its 2026 spring aerial treatment to control mosquito larvae in flooded woodlots on April 8. Four yellow and white aircraft will be working out of James Clements Airport in Bay City to provide the aerial service. Over a period of 7-10 days, Bay County residents may notice the low-flying aircraft over wooded areas between 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., weather permitting.

Aircraft will release a granular insecticide called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) to flooded woodlots in Bay County to control spring species of mosquito larvae breeding in the water. BTI is a naturally-occurring soil bacterium that is attached to a small granule made of ground-up corn cob. Once the granule reaches the water, the mosquito larvae eat the bacterium. Timing of the treatment is crucial as the mosquito larvae must ingest the product during this specific time in its life cycle in order to be effective. Controlling these mosquitoes now in the larval stage, will reduce the number of adult mosquitoes later in the spring.

Mosquito Control Manager Rebecca Brandt notes that “BTI has been used in Bay County’s spring aerial treatment for over forty years due to its environmental compatibility and low risk to non-target species. It is a naturally-occurring product containing a bacterium that specifically controls mosquito larvae, blackflies, and fungus gnats. It will not impact non-target organisms such humans, pets, birds, fish, and other aquatic organisms.”

Throughout the summer, residents can protect themselves from mosquito bites by applying insect repellent before going outside when mosquitoes are active to reduce the threat of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne viruses. Residents can also reduce mosquitoes by eliminating sources of stagnant water on their property including storing water-holding containers upside down to prevent water collecting, changing bird bath and wading pool water weekly, placing fine-mesh screen over rain barrels, and disposing of old tires.

To help with this effort, two scrap tire collections will be held for Bay County residents this summer, Saturday, May 30, at Bay County Mosquito Control, and Saturday, August 1, at Fraser Township Hall, both from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Up to 10 passenger car-sized tires without rims will be accepted per household at these events.

Bay County Mosquito Control Manager Rebecca Brandt can be reached at (989) 894-4555 or [email protected] for more information about the aerial larval control program. ###