Above: CMMP is warning the public about plans to spray for mosquitos in town, starting next week. The info also informs residents who are against spraying how to request “No Spray” on their private property.
Starting June 30th, spraying to kill mosquitoes is scheduled in Southborough this summer. Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project has shared details and links about their plans to spray, potential for schedule changes, why spraying is necessary, and where to find opt-out info.
The Town posted the information to its website:
Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project personnel will be in your community to respond to residents’ concerns about mosquitoes in their area on the following dates in June/July:
June 30, July 1, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
Any of the above dates are tentative, and all dates are subject to change due to weather conditions, mosquito populations, mosquito virus activity and/or special event spraying. This program will shut down when cool night temperatures become predominant in the area. A detailed notice about our spray schedule is posted on the CMMCP phone system after 3:30 p.m. each day, and it is also listed on our website at http://www.cmmcp.org, click the “2021 Spray Schedule” button on the right. Please pay attention to the week of July 5th as the schedule has been modified to ensure all communities are scheduled for service that week due to the July 4th holiday.
Requests for service may be recorded by calling the CMMCP office at 508-393-3055 between 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, or logging on to http://www.cmmcp.org. Results of these request may initiate an application of mosquito insecticides to defined, site-specific areas of town. Such an application may be accomplished by using truck mounted equipment depending on the extent of the application. (read more)
The letter also includes instructions about finding the information on “No Spray” options for private property owners to request exclusion from wide area pesticides application.
The letter was posted to the Town website along with links to details on spraying and schedule, plus FAQs on the threat of contracting EEE through mosquito bites.
In 2019, Southborough was designated a critical risk zone for contracting EEE. Residents were warned to avoid lingering outdoors in evening hours, advised to use bug spray and wear protective clothing. Fortunately, the risk level wasn’t repeated last year.
Mosquito testing for this summer has just begun. As of yet, no cases have been publicly confirmed in the state.*
*If you read otherwise on the Town website, or a document you received by email, that was a Board of Health memo from a past year. It was initially among the documents posted with the notice. Public Health Nurse Taylor West confirmed for me that the undated memo was from last summer and has taken it down.
