What We Do:
The Flathead County Mosquito Control (FCMC) program has two primary goals. The first is to protect the citizens of Flathead County from mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus. The second goal is to reduce the negative impact of nuisance mosquitoes on outdoor activities. These goals are achieved through a comprehensive approach, employing integrated pest management principles in a program that is environmentally responsible, fiscally prudent and operationally effective.
Our program owes much of its current success to the cooperative efforts of private land owners, businesses, land managers and an involved public. You know best where the standing water is located on your property. When you share that information with us, our trained technicians will assess whether the water is larval habitat for mosquitoes and if appropriate, work with you to reduce mosquitoes using the most environmentally-responsible methods possible. It is only with your help, that we can help you.
Options regarding Adult Mosquito Control & a note to Beekeepers.
Flathead County Mosquito Control respects your right to limit the amount of chemicals that may be used around your property. FCMC personnel cannot apply treatments to property without the permission of the landowner. When treatments are necessary to control mosquitoes, FCMC personnel select treatment methods with the lowest potential impact on human health or the environment as a first choice. These methods include removing, dumping, or draining artificial containers, and applying low-toxicity larvicides to larval habitats as needed. Larval control measures are far more efficient than efforts to control adult mosquitoes and carry a lower potential for possible impacts on human health or the environment. Adulticide treatments may be applied when a mosquito-borne illness, such as West Nile Virus, is detected, or when an adult mosquito population exceeds established thresholds. When a dulticide treatment is planned, FCMC personnel will secure permission from all landowners in the proposed treatment area, and notify residents prior to treatment.
You may choose to “Opt-Out” of this control method on your property by following this “Opt-Out” link and providing us with the necessary information.
Please note that FCMC cannot apply adulticide treatments without the permission of all landowners within a potential treatment area. These treatments are also subject to a number of environmental and weather considerations, and may not be applied where there is a potential to expose people, pets, and livestock to treatments. As such, adulticide treatments are not possible in all areas. All treatments are applied at the discretion of FCMC personnel.
Aduliticide chemicals are toxic to bees, fish, and aquatics if not used in accordance with the labels. FCMC and the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) recognize the importance of bees, beekeepers, our natural pollinators, and the environment. Ultra Low Volume (ULV) Adulticide treatments applied by a truck-mounted machine have an effective spray drift of about 300 ft. and are conducted in the evening when bees have returned to their nests or hives. To protect your hives you may “Opt-Out” as in the above paragraph.