Cambridge Matters
by Commissioner Steve Rideout
June 8, 2018

Mosquito Spraying in the City

A number of people have started to ask about when or if the City will be spraying for mosquitoes. What follows is an email from Odie Wheeler that provides information about how and when the city will spray for mosquitoes and some history behind what is done and why it is done. I hope what follows is helpful:

The City doesn’t and hasn’t gotten aerial spraying like the County does except in the early spring then it’s limited to the perimeters in the wooded areas, like around Cattail, Egypt Rd., etc. The spraying in the City is done by vehicle with sprayers in the rear of a truck. They start spraying around 11pm or midnight and are finished around 5 or 6 in the morning. Spraying can only be done when temperatures are below 85 degrees with winds between 2 & 10 mph and the spraying is spaced 2 to 4 days apart. The sprayers are very quiet so for the most part residents don’t know spraying is taking place. They spray late at night so lower number of residents are on the streets, lower temperatures, etc. In talking with them they should complete the aerial spraying in the outside lying areas around Cambridge i.e. Hudson, Church Creek, Linkwood, etc. early next week, and will begin ground spraying later next week. When they do the aerial spraying in the areas around Cambridge as I described, helps our area allot as they hit the wet, marshy areas first where allot of our mosquito’s come from into the City. Actually they will be doing your area tonight (town point), then Church Creek Monday night weather permitting, just as examples. The state controls when they do and don’t spray even in the City, as they have to test the ditches, marshes, storm water management ponds, etc. for eggs & larvae presence depending on those results is what triggers the spraying. I have not received our renewal contract for this year they are having it sent to me as it had been sent to 307 Gay St., we are getting that corrected.

Years ago the City had its own sprayer, truck etc., and I held the mosquito pesticide license until about 1998 or 1999, allot of the above is from memory when I had my license’s. When the sprayer broke beyond repair we just went to the state doing it, they have done a good job, then after the season is completed they bill us our portion of the cost as they do absorb a portion of the cost as well.

– Steve