Repair & Improve

Take The Bite Out Of Backyard Barbecues

Precautions Prevent Disease

by Tom Kraeutler

It’s summer barbecue season. You’ve got the sunscreen, the charcoal, and the burgers. You’ve also got mosquitoes and ticks…and the threat of disease.

According to the Center for Disease Control there have been 79 documented cases of West Nile virus and 8 deaths since 1999. And the California Environmental Protection Agency reports that Lyme Disease has become the leading tick-borne illness in the U.S. But with a few simple precautions, you can take the bite out of your backyard bash.

Mosquitoes need only two things to breed: standing water and time - as little as a few days. We think of mosquitoes breeding in large wet areas like swamps: but you may be surprised to learn that just as many mosquitoes can form in your own back yard. But with a few simple precautions, you keep mosquitoes in check and stay off their menu.

CLEAN GUTTERS - Gutters clogged with debris allow stagnant water to form perfect “landing zones” for mosquito eggs. Clean gutters at least 4 times a year or install leaf guards to keep gutters dry.

COLLECT CONTAINERS - Survey your yard for anything that holds water. Look for empty flower pots, buckets, jars, wheelbarrows and old tires. Drill holes in the bottom of trash cans and recycling buckets to allow them to drain. Check children’s toys like wading pools, sand boxes, and other surfaces that can collect water. Flush bird baths with clean water at least once a week.

PREVENT PUDDLES - Fill in low areas in your yard where water collects. Use clean fill dirt to build up the area, then cover with top soil and use grass seed, sod or mulch. Water puddles that last for even a few days can allow mosquitoes to hatch.

DON’T GO THERE - Perhaps the simplest way to avoid mosquitoes is to stay inside at dusk and dawn. At these times, the female mosquito has a biological reaction to seek a "host" (that's you!) from which to get blood to fertilize her eggs. By staying inside for the dawn and dusk hours, you stay off the menu.

Products that won't work
Opinions on how well products that claim to prevent mosquito problems work vary wildly:  According to Dr. Wayne J. Crans, Associate Research Professor in Entomology at Rutger's University, here's what doesn't work effectively:

• Bug Zappers - These electrocuting devices use an ultraviolet light to draw insects through an electrified grid.  Zappers kill a lot of insects but very few of the insects killed are classified as pests.  In fact, biting insects make up less than 1 percent of insects caught in zappers.  Zapper popularity is most likely due to the never-ending sound effects, which remind owners that the units are working.  The only problem is that an average night's catch includes far more beneficial insects than those that can be trouble.
• Electronic Repellers - Hand-held, high frequency electronic devices that rely on high-frequency sound to repel mosquitoes have been touted for years as effective against mosquitoes.  But, scientific studies have repeatedly shown that electronic mosquito repellers do not prevent …mosquitoes from “biting" Bottom line - save your money!
• Bats - From time to time, bats are promoted to rid an area of mosquitoes.  While bats do eat mosquitoes, they also eat just about every other form of insects as well.  As a result, bats are no more effective that bug zappers in preventing insect problems.

Ticks
Deer populations have grown to 28 million from only 500,000 at the turn of the century.  And, as deer populations encroach on populated areas, the risk of deer ticks and the resulting Lyme disease increases.  With proper precautions, Lyme disease is preventable:

• Dress Smart - Tuck pants cuffs into boots or socks, and wear long sleeves and light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks.
• Stay on Track - Stay to the center of hiking paths, and avoid grassy and marshy woodland areas.   Ticks can't jump, they simply hang on brush and tall grass waiting for you to rub up against them.
• Inspect Daily - Inspect yourself and your children for clinging ticks after leaving an infested area. Deer ticks are hard to see—nymphs are dot-sized; adults are smaller than a sesame seed. If you discover a tick feeding, do not panic: studies indicate that an infected tick does not usually transmit the Lyme organism during the first 24 hours.
• Use Repellent - When in a tick-infested area, a good prevention is an insect repellent; however, consider using a product designed to be applied to clothing rather than your skin.

Deer ticks are most active from April through October, so caution must be exercised when venturing into tick country.  If you suspect Lyme disease or its symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

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