Mosquito season is here and the Village of Oak Brook is offering a new service to inform residents about spraying. New options for reporting nuisance mosquitoes or standing water. Mosquito Control is important to the community because of the potential that exists from mosquitoes in transmitting diseases and the annoyance factor in disrupting outdoor activities.
Visit www.clarkeportal.com/hotline to report standing water issues or high mosquito population levels.
Do you want to be notified of nighttime adult mosquito applications? You can sign up for notifications by going to www.clarkeportal.com/hotline Click 'REGISTER FOR SERVICE NOTIFICATIONS’ at the bottom of the form. Simply complete the information and create your own password, then click submit'. Your location will be verified to see if you live along an application route.
You can also signup for alerts by text message, send a text SPRAY to 888-777. Notifications about what zones, times and dates of spraying will be sent out along with links to additional information.
Mosquito Repellents
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) Protect recommends that you protect yourself and your family from tick and mosquito bites. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Reduce mosquito issues by remembering the "five Ds:"
- Dusk and Dawn — avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active.
- Dress — wear long, loose, light-colored clothing that covers the skin.
- DEET — use mosquito repellents that contain DEET. DEET is the most effective mosquito repellent
- Drainage — eliminate standing water around the home in places such as buckets, cans, and plant containers.
- Doors and Windows should have "bug tight" screen to prevent mosquitoes from entering you home.
Mosquito Control
The key to reducing mosquito populations is to deny them a place to breed. There are many things citizens can do to encourage reduced mosquito populations around their homes. These include:
- Remove trash and clutter. This includes, buckets, tarps and any other items that could collect water.
- Minimize and eliminate standing water. Mosquitoes require water to breed. Removing water-holding containers like bird baths, kiddie pools, and pet water dishes, or turning them upside down, as well as ensuring trash can lids fit tightly, helps prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. Do not let water sit at bottom of flower pots or in holes or tree stumps.
- Empty and change water. Keep water in containers that cannot be removed, such as bird baths and kiddie pools.
- Regularly clean gutters. Clogged drains and gutters can create backup that breeds mosquitoes.
- Repair screens on windows and doors. Make sure children know to keep screen doors closed to keep mosquitoes from entering buildings.
- Maintain lawns. Cut weeds, mow lawns and water carefully to prevent standing water.