home and garden maintenance checklist West Nile virus is…

              home and garden maintenance checklist
West Nile virus is a disease that can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. The virus is carried long distances by infected
birds and then spread locally by mosquitoes that bite these birds. Drought conditions may make it worse since birds and
mosquitoes will share the same few watering holes, even in backyards. Mosquitoes need still water to lay their eggs, which
develop in 7 to 10 days. Eliminate standing water weekly to keep many mosquitoes from breeding in the first place.

It is very rare to catch the virus, and most infected people will not even get sick or will only experience mild flu-like symptoms.
However, West Nile virus can be fatal especially to people over 50 years of age. So protect yourself from mosquito bites before
doing any outdoor maintenance and while enjoying outdoor activities. Visit www.fightthebitecolorado.com for more information.


Animals           Dogs and cats can become infected, but rarely    Lawn ornaments Should be checked for areas that hold water,
                  become ill and do not spread the virus. Keep                    and drained or flushed weekly.
                  animal areas dry. Keep food and water bowls      Lighting       Check garden lights and eliminate water from
                  clean. A vaccine is available for horses.                       tops of fixtures and from inside floodlights.
Birdbaths         Clean or hose out birdbaths weekly.              Playgrounds    Drill drainage holes in tire swings and
BTI               A natural bacteria that kills mosquito and fly                  playground equipment that holds water.
                  larvae yet is non-toxic to animals when used     Ponds          Stock with mosquito eating fish. Use mosquito
                  properly. Kills larvae developing in water.                     dunks or BTI in ponds and larger bodies of
                  (See dunks below.)                                              water. Follow instructions for safe use.
Building material Unused pipe should be kept inside or turned      Potted plants  Do not overwater plants. Empty saucers
                  over so that no water accumulates.                              weekly or flush with garden hose. Drill small
Chainlink fence Cover chainlink fence posts with metal or                         drainage holes in outdoor saucers.
                  plastic caps since they are hollow pipes         Pools/Spas     Maintained pools and whirlpool spas are not a
Clothing          Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants when                    hazard since pool chemicals and filters kill any
                  working around mosquito infested areas.                         larvae. Use dunks in deserted pools and spas.
Containers        Cover containers or turn upside down so that     Rainbarrels    Cover tightly with screening.
                  they do not hold water including: ashtrays,      Raingutters    Keep gutters clear of debris. They can
                  boxes, buckets, cans, cups, jars and pots.                      become breeding areas with standing water.
Dawn/Dusk         The times of day that biting mosquitoes are      Recycling bins Cut top and bottom from tin cans and flatten.
                  most active since they avoid the heat of day.                   Invert glass jars. Crush soft drink bottles and
Dead birds        Pick up dead birds with a shovel or gloves.                     cans. Store newspapers on end, not flat. Drill
                  Double bag in plastic and dispose in trash.                     drainange holes in bottom of recycling bin.
                  Dead birds should not be handled directly in     Screens        Install and maintain tight-fitting window and
                  order to avoid exposure to the virus. Wash                      door screens.
                  your hands thoroughly afterwards.                Shrubbery      Trim and thin shrubs and bushy plants since
DEET              The active ingredient in insect repellent. A                    they can be mosquito hiding areas.
                  10% concentration is recommended for kids.       Tool sheds     Keep shed roofs maintained and eliminate
Drains            Keep outdoor drains flowing freely.                             water around foundation.
Dripping water    Fix leaky faucets, air conditioners and hoses.   Tires          Properly dispose of old tires. Drill drainage
Drought           Drought conditions may help spread the                          holes in tires used in retaining walls and in
                 virus since birds and mosquitoes share the                       landscaping.
                 same few water sources, even in yards.            Trash cans     Keep trash cans covered. Remove buckets
Dumpsters        Keep dumpsters covered, and remove any                           and containers from around trash areas.
                 water inside and under dumpster.                  Trees          Eliminate water from dead tree stumps and
Dunks            Dunks are donut-sized pellets that that kill                     hollow areas of live trees. Fill cavities with
                 mosquito larvae but are non-toxic to animals.                    sand and flush weekly with a hose.
                 They dissolve slowly in water. Available at       Trash          Remove anything that can hold water
                 hardware and garden stores. (See BTI above.)                     including cans, cups, tin foil, plastic and paper
Flat roofs       Inspect weekly to remove any puddles. Fix                        since mosquito larvae can grow.
                 leaks from air conditioners and pipes. Keep       Umbrellas      Table umbrella and basketball bases often are
                 raingutters clear of debris and flowing freely.                  filled with water. Cap tightly, seal with duct
Irrigation       Do not overwater. Eliminate any areas of                         tape or fill with sand and cover tightly.
                 excess standing water weekly.                     Weeds          Remove weeds, especially around areas close
Landscaping      Remove plastic sheeting under bark or rock                       to water.
                 and replace with landscape fabric that            Wheelbarrows   Store wheelbarrows vertically or turned over to
                 prevents weeds yet allows water through.                         prevent water accumulation.