FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2021
Contact: John Lyon, Director of Strategic Communications (845) 638-5645
Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, D.O., M.P.H., CPE, DABFM, FAAFP (845) 364-2512
NEW CITY, NY, – To help County residents reduce the number of mosquitoes on their property, Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announce the availability of free Mosquito Control Products for the 2021 Season.
Mosquito Dunks® will be available, free of charge, for curbside pickup at the Robert L. Yeager Health Complex, 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona. Dunks must be ordered in advance by calling (845) 364-3173 or e-mailing [email protected] to arrange a date and time for pick up, while supplies last. Visit the Mosquito Control webpage at http://bit.ly/2aXY0E4 for details and download and print a DUNK GIVEAWAY FORM. Please bring the completed and signed form to the pickup location on the arranged day/time.
Mosquito Dunks® are small, donut-shaped objects that float on standing water and release bacteria that kill mosquitoes during their larval stage of development before they become flying, biting adults. The Health Department provides them to County residents to use in closed or unused private swimming pools and spas. Dunks are effective on wet surfaces for approximately 30 days. A single dunk will treat an area of about 100 square feet of standing water. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LABEL INSTRUCTIONS when using Mosquito Dunks® or any other pesticide. It is important to know the approximate dimensions of your pool/spa to ensure that you get the correct number of dunks for effective treatment.
Fathead minnows will be available for one day only, and they must be ordered in advance. The fish will be available for pick-up on Thursday, April 22, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Robert L. Yeager Health Complex, 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona. Follow the “Free Dunk/Fish” signs from Sanatorium Road to the giveaway location. Please visit our website on the day of the event to confirm that the giveaway will take place as scheduled. The Health Department will provide the required permits to allow you to stock the fish within Rockland County. The fish will be in a sealed bag for transport. Please bring a bucket or small cooler. To order the minnows, call (845) 364-3173 or visit http://bit.ly/2na0BSG. Please order by April 19th.
Fathead minnows are a type of fish that eat mosquito larvae before they become flying, biting adults. They can eat up to 200 mosquito larvae per day. The fish can be placed in unused swimming pools, ornamental ponds, and other similar areas that have a minimum of eight inches of water. It is not necessary to stock streams and rivers with these fish, as mosquitoes generally do not lay eggs in moving water. If fish, frogs, and/or salamanders are already present in the area of concern, it is unnecessary to add the minnows, as the existing animal population should provide appropriate mosquito control.
“The Mosquito Dunks® & fathead minnow giveaways are a perfect way for all of us to take action to help control the mosquito population and protect ourselves and the community from vector-borne diseases. We encourage residents to take advantage of these free mosquito control products. Remember, the most effective mosquito control begins in your own backyard, so be sure to check around your property for any items that can hold water and store them in a manner that prevents them from collecting water,” said Dr. Ruppert.
“This program is a perfect way for all of us to take action to help control the mosquito population and protect ourselves and the community from vector-borne diseases. Our Health Department will keep their head on a swivel to ensure we are protected against all health threats,” said County Executive Day.
For more information, visit the Rockland County Health Department Mosquito Control Program webpage at http://bit.ly/2aXY0E4.
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