The worst of the heavy rains have moved out of the Gulf Coast area. Unfortunately, warm and humid weather will inevitably lead to a mosquito boom in the near future. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says that, not only are those pests annoying, they could also be dangerous.
“Be careful when you’re out there cleaning up storm debris in the yard, especially late in the evening, be aware that those mosquitoes are there. When you have a surge in mosquitoes, you can also have a surge in the diseases such as West Nile virus carried by mosquitoes,” Strain cautions area residents.
Strain says we can expect the post-storm mosquitoes to be at their worst in about 10-12 days as the weather conditions will be perfect for those pests to spawn. His advice is to get rid of any standing water around the home, as that water attracts those mosquitoes. Flower pots and low-lying areas of yards where water tends to pool should be cleared out to ensure mosquitoes aren’t drawn to those spots.
While mosquitoes are the main concern with the coming weather conditions, there are other potential pests that could pose a threat and are often brought out by heavy rains according to Strain. “When you have these storms, once the water goes down, watch out for other critters that may have moved. You’ll see snakes and raccoons and things like that. Every once in a while, you may even find an alligator who’s looking for a new home,” warns Strain.
