Experts expect growth in mosquito population

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — At Greenfield Lake, you are bound to see wildlife like alligators and turtles.

But you’ll also find some unwanted guests: mosquitoes.

“Like any kind of still water will definitely attract a ton of it especially like a large body of water like this.” Morgan Roberts said.

Morgan and her friend Geilda see them when they walk their dogs at the park and you’ll probably notice them too.

The numbers this year seem to be worse than in years past.

“Well it was a very short winter and we had very little freeze,” Geilda Barnett said. “I expect that they will be way worse because they were never really killed off.”

Experts say she’s right. The warmer winter and unseasonable temperatures extended the breeding season of mosquitoes, which doesn’t typically start until April.

“We’re already seeing that mosquitoes are definitely really active out there,” Mosquito Squad General Manager Brian Bostic said. “With it being so mild, a lot of the mosquitoes did not die off. We didn’t have a long enough freezing period where we could kill a lot of the mosquitoes. So we have that much more mosquitoes out there breeding and hatching.”

Bostic says that his company has heard complaints of mosquitoes since December. But he says there are things you can do to help.

He calls it the 5 t’s. Tip any standing water to not attract mosquitoes. Toss items like firewood and leaves that bring along a moist environment. Tilt water out of play structures or outdoor pools. Get rid of tarps because they often hold water. Call professionals to treat mosquitoes in your area.

For more tips on handling mosquitoes or other bugs in your area, click here.