Public Notice: Unscheduled Mosquito Control Spraying in Baltimore County

Sprayings Planned for Wednesday Evening

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Maryland Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the local department of health, will expand mosquito control services in the Owings Mills area of Baltimore County due to a public health concern over the potential for mosquito-borne diseases.

Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) truck-based spraying to control adult mosquitoes is planned for the evening of Wednesday, September 26, in the Owings Mills area, within a one-mile radius of the intersection of Owings Mills Boulevard and Crondall Lane. This includes parts of the following communities: Allyson Gardens, Academy Acres, Academy Lane, Brushwood, Gwynbrook, Morningside Heights, Owings Ridge, Pleasant Fields, Sarawoods, Timberscape, Worthington Place South, and Wyndham Commons.

Spraying will occur after 7:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, spraying will be re-scheduled for the next available evening. Any existing spray exemptions in the area will be temporarily suspended.

Mosquito Control personnel will use a permethrin-based solution that the EPA has approved for use in public health mosquito control programs without posing unreasonable risks to human health. However, out of an abundance of caution, the department recommends avoiding outdoor activities during spraying.

While not all mosquitoes carry diseases, the Maryland Department of Agriculture suggests that residents take precautions to minimize their exposure to mosquito bites. These measures include:

• Wear long, loose fitting, light colored clothing
• Wear insect repellents according to product labels
• Avoid mosquito infested areas during prime periods of activity (between dusk and dawn)
• Install, inspect, and repair window and door screens in homes and stables
• Regularly clean bird baths and bowls for pet food and water
• Remove or empty all water-holding containers

All Marylanders are encouraged to follow the Department’s Twitter feed @MdAgMosquito that will post unscheduled spray events and other timely information about mosquito control in Maryland. Routine spray program schedules are available by county on the program’s website.

For more information, call the Department of Agriculture’s Mosquito Control Program at 410-841-5870.

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