The City of Dauphin is telling residents to get ready for a big jump in mosquito numbers after last month’s near-record rains and flooding. Officials say the bugs are already a nuisance, and the conditions left behind by the floods mean more are on the way.
Early July flooding turned streets into rivers and filled basements across the city. A City of Dauphin Facebook post says mosquitoes have been especially active since the water went down, causing frustration for many people. The city is now asking everyone to use insect repellent and dump out any standing water on their property, like in old flower pots, gutters, or kids’ toys, to cut down on breeding spots.
The problem comes from what experts call floodwater mosquitoes. These are aggressive biters that show up in huge numbers after heavy rain. When all that floodwater sits in low spots it makes perfect nurseries for mosquito larvae. Manitoba saw this coming earlier in the summer, when trap counts for these mosquitoes jumped 180 percent in late June to an average of 1,240 per trap.
The flooding itself hit Dauphin hard. After about 115 millimetres of rain since Sunday night leading into July 1, the Vermillion River spilled over its banks, putting streets and homes underwater and forcing the city to declare a state of emergency. Mayor David Bosiak called it the worst flooding he has ever seen in the city. The north end, which sits at a lower elevation, took the biggest hit with the most overland flooding and basement damage.
Residents are still cleaning up from the mess, and now the mosquito surge is adding to the headaches. The city says taking simple steps like using bug spray can make a difference while the community works through its flood recovery.
