Mosquito-eating fish give-away in Santa Cruz County
Jeanette Bent
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — Santa Cruz County is offering free mosquito-eating fish from the guppy family to county residents.
These fish — literally called The Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis) — are natural predators of mosquitos, making them an environmental friendly alternative to mosquito control without the use of chemicals.
The main purpose behind this program is to limit the possibility of the spread of disease.
“People are often surprised to know that we have mosquitoes on the coast,” Amanda Poulsen, assistant vector control manager, said. “We do have at least two species that are really good at transmitting west nile virus to people and so you know, we are definitely concerned about their disease carrying potential.”
These fish are not native to California but are only introduced into man-made systems, like water troughs, disused pools or ornamental ponds.
Poulsen said even though they are not originally from the state, because they are not entering natural systems, they do not upset the balance of the ecosystem.
An adult fish is capable of eating hundreds of mosquito larvae a day and vecause of this, it limits the chance of a mosquito laying disease-infected eggs and have them go on to bite someone.
“We also have species that can transmit dog and cat heartworm,” Poulsen said. “So if folks are concerned about their pets getting disease, mosquitoes are definitely something we want to minimize
Jadyn Sacoolas, a worker from the mosquito and vector control, said they bring mosquito larvae and pupae back to identify so the vector can figure out what species are in the local water sources.
“We set these pretty large traps that have our name on it,” Sacoolas said. “They emit CO1 and sometimes human lures to bring in the mosquitoes.”
The program is funded by a small fee on the property tax bill to local home and property owners and it helps to provide supplies for the storage of the fish.
“We’re very conscious with our budget, this whole set up was designed and built by one of our vector control specialists,” Poulsen said. “He built this all from scratch.”
The vector also provides rodent exclusion inspections, tick identification, and monitoring and control of mosquitoes throughout the whole county.
These fish have a life expexctancy of 2-3 years and reproduce in large numbers. If you do not need the fish anymore the county will take them back.
Despite their results, these fish are not the solution for everyone
“If anybody’s source in their backyard has the potential to overflow in a natural body of water, maybe mosquito fish aren’t right for you,” Poulsen said. “But we do like to get eyes on it and we’ll bring them to you.”
To request some of these little mosquito-eaters, visit the county’s application website at www2.santacruzcountyca.gov/agc/AGCServiceRequest/ServiceRequest/Create.