By Cam Fortems
Kamloops This Weeks
Persistent high waters and wet weather are creating new habitat for mosquitoes as crews struggle with conditions.
Cheryl Phippen of BWP Consulting said Thursday crews started treatments behind schedule due to the late onset of spring.
They recently treated areas south of Aberdeen and Pineview Valley, as well as around Knutsford, Pinantan and Pritchard.
The program is funded through the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
It uses a larvacide that is non-toxic to fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and most other insects, according to the regional district.
Phippen said a major challenge is the amount of surface water this year, areas that can harbour larvae.
“You’re walking across the grasslands and there’s just water coming out of the ground,” she said.
Those same conditions created slide-risk conditions in Rayleigh and a lengthy evacuation of a handful of properties.
Phippen said helicopter-based treatment is scheduled over the next few days on the North and South Thompson rivers.
Crews treat shallow areas when the rivers crest and then recede, allowing larvae to hatch. Every time the river peaks higher and recedes again, the same treatment must be done.
Robson Rogan, an agrologist with Purity Feeds, said the late spring has also meant later growth of noxious weeds.
The wet conditions are expected to lead to weed growth and their spread.
“With all the rain and unprecedented moisture and now with the heat, everything’s going to bolt with invasive weeds,” Rogan said.
Those include knapweed and sulphur cinquefoil.
Rogan said he has also noticed a large influx of ticks this season, backed up by conversations from ranchers and large animal vets.
On the deer trails, he said, “they’re just waiting to hitch a ride. I’ve really been getting people to check themselves.”
