As the Bugs Bite, I run Inside
June 29th, 2008 Thomasso Posted in General | 10 Comments »
It sure has been a hot the last couple of days around here? It is like we jumped from cool wet weather, right into summer all of a sudden, reaching 30 plus Celsius with skin burning sun. Now I hear that there could be forest-fire warnings issued very shortly, and water advisories are right around the corner–better get that lawn watered. But there is one irritant that seems to make forest-fires and water shortages pale in comparison: Mosquitoes!
I took a walk to the beach today, Fort Langley’s best kept secret, along the river where I thought I would take off the shoes and feel the sand between my toes, maybe wade in the water for a bit. At first I thought something was wrong…, there were hardly any people, no sun worshippers, boaters and water-skiers. It didn’t take long for me to realize why no humans were around the water on a super hot day like today. When I started my walk down the path that takes me from the bridge to the shore, I was attacked by thousands of mosquitoes–all parking themselves on any bare-skin they could find. Then they stared injecting me with their inch-venom, and then drawing blood as fast as they could. I ran back up the hill twice as fast I had walked down hoping to outrun them. They followed me home–the dirty bastards!
I have about thirty bits along my arms and the back of my neck. The itchiness it unbelievable. Now I know why people are staying away from the water and bushes by the river.
When I went into the IGA to grab some items for my lunch tomorrow, there were flies coming in the store to feast on the people standing in the checkout lineup. They must have recognized me because they all seemed to gang up on me. I must of looked weird as I was trying to squish as many of them as I could hoping to put a dint in their population.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I suspect you were near, or on, Brae Island? The Township sprays its property for mosquitoes, but the GVRD refuses to spray its regional parks, meaning Fort Langley gets the worst of Brae Island and Derby Reach.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Sadly, yes–just off from Glover Road-the bridge on the GVRD/Metro-Vancouver side.
I think we are the main course!
July 1st, 2008 at 12:56 am
Be careful with mosquito bites
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:25 am
The mosquitoes were so bad over the weekend that the campground was giving refunds and many people were leaving as it was so bad you could not go outside even with protection!
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Perhaps there is a message in there, somewhere, for the GVRD/Metro-Vancouver Park Board!
Yes Steve, I heard that too. I know there were a lot of disappointed families who booked their camping spots well in advance for the long weekend. I think the kid would be crushed the most.
*Raul Anything that bites is bad. Bug spray doesn’t even work on these guys! It’s like they are genetically modified flies with sharper longer lances.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:01 pm
We’re upping the spray routine (we have even used a helicopter on parts of McMillan Island, with permission from the Kwantlens).
Apparently it’s bad all along the Fraser throughout the region.
And we’re continuing to press the GVRD to let us get on to Brae and Derby Reach.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Okay, I have some news…
Township staff informed Council today that the GVRD has agreed to a more balanced approach to mosquito treatment that considers the interests of the surrounding community. As a result, they are moving forward with assessing and treating Brae Island as soon as possible.
To help speed the process up further, we have offered the services of our mosquito control contractor, Culex, to get onto Brae as soon as possible (hopefully today).
Hope that helps!
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
NICE—Thanks Jordan for the great news! I’m going to have to make a post about this…. I think a lot of people are going to be very pleased, even if they don’t like the idea of spraying chemicals onto the water-ways.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Good information. Most informative yet. Question though – anyone know the expected duration of this mosquito season?
Thanks, diane
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
[...] I just got a reply on my post from June 29, 2008 called “As the Bugs Bite, I Run Inside,” and it appears that someone has been listening to our cries, whines and harping. The pest [...]