Document text
Vector Control collecting old tires this week Tuesday Aug 23, 2016 at 5:28 PM Local report As part of its mosquito control efforts, Jackson County Vector Control District will accept old automobile tires from from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, through Saturday, Aug. 27. Tires may be dropped off at the Vector Control District's offices at 555 Mosquito Lane, Central Point. Only automobile tires will be accepted, with a limit of 10 per residence or 30 per vehicle. Identification or a utility statement with a home address on it for verification of Jackson County residency is required. Tires still on the rim or more than 34 inches tall will not be accepted. Only whole tires will be accepted. A release from Vector Control notes that tires left outside can become major sources for mosquito breeding, as the water they hold can't be dumped out easily and they can be difficult to dispose of. Other breeding sites for mosquitoes include buckets, coffee cans, wheelbarrows and other objects that collect water from sprinklers or rain. One small source that holds water for seven days can produce hundreds of mosquitoes in a week. “Mosquitoes produced in containers around your home are not only a nuisance but they also can carry diseases such as West Nile virus,” Jim Lunders, manager and biologist of the Vector Control District, said in the release. Lunders said that despite dry conditions, the district is finding containers filled with water and mosquito larva around residences when responding to service requests. “We need the public’s assistance in reducing water-holding containers around their property,” said Lunders. “Eliminating backyard sources is the first step in reducing mosquito populations around your home." Vector control offered the following tips for reducing mosquito populations or bites from mosquitoes: Eliminate all sources of standing water, such as flooded fields, clogged gutters, buckets, coffee cans and old tires. Stock water troughs and ornamental ponds with mosquito fish, which are available free at the district office. Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when in mosquito-infested areas. Use mosquito repellents containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535 or Picaridin, making sure to follow the directions on the container. Make sure all screen doors and windows are in good repair and fit tightly. For more information, call 541-826-2199 or see www.jcvcd.org.