By Monica Harnish

Last week’s Village Council meeting noted that on Wednesday, the 28th, the weekly mosquito fogging program would start. But did you know that the first line of defense against mosquito-borne diseases isn’t spraying pesticides throughout the community? (Xerces Society: Start Now To Prevent Mosquito-Borne Disease and Keep Our Pollinators Safe). Not only are such aerial spray efforts not the most effective strategies for protecting people; they also put pollinators at risk. In fact, some communities (Sierra Club Municipal Mosquito Fogging is Ineffective and Harmful) have moved away from fogging programs. 

There are better ways to protect ourselves from mosquitoes without harming our families or the environment. These include: