To help control the local mosquito population, Santa Cruz County is offering free freshwater fish for residents.
Mosquitofish, also called Gambusia affinis, are a North American freshwater fish. The county collects mosquitofish from the natural bodies of water where they live, then distributes them to residents to help with mosquito control. Amanda Poulsen of the county’s Mosquito and Vector Control department told Lookout that this initiative is ongoing and will continue as long as there is a stock of mosquitofish.
Mosquitoes are known to lay their eggs in bodies of still water, such as unused swimming pools and animal water troughs. Mosquitoes can contribute to the spread of blood-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus, among humans and animals, making it crucial to control their populations.
Residents who have enclosed fresh water sources, like ornamental ponds, swimming pools and water features can use the fish to eat mosquito larvae that might be present in those spaces. The fish prefer the shallow unshaded areas of a pond or pool. They can live in temperatures from 33 to 104, but prefer water temperatures of 77 to 86.
The fish are not native to California – though, per vector control, they’ve been established in local wetlands and drainages for decades. So the county prioritizes delivering them only to areas where they cannot compete with or harm native wildlife, Poulsen said.
If residents no longer want their mosquitofish, the county is also offering to remove and relocate them.
People can submit requests for mosquitofish online at the Mosquito and Vector Control website or by calling the agency’s service line at 831-454-2590.
Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your news releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.
