Bay County Mosquito Services

- 810 Livingston St, Bay City, MI 48708

Welcome to an in-depth look at a crucial local government service for residents across the Michigan region: Bay County Mosquito Services. As a division of the Bay County Environmental Affairs & Community Development department, this office plays an indispensable role in maintaining public health and ensuring the quality of life we all cherish, particularly during our all-too-short, beautiful Michigan summers. The program’s mission, established following a St. Louis encephalitis outbreak in the 1970s, remains clear: to protect the county’s citizens and visitors from the annoyance and disease risks posed by mosquitoes. By employing a comprehensive, science-based approach known as Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM), the service diligently works to reduce mosquito populations to tolerable levels, minimizing both disease transmission and general nuisance in our neighborhoods, parks, and recreational spaces.

This dedicated team operates as both a county government office and a specialized pest control service, blending administrative oversight with highly technical field operations, all guided by biological surveillance. Their focus is not on eradication—which is near-impossible—but on effective, targeted management. For anyone living in or around Bay County, understanding the services offered, how to access them, and the methodology behind their operations is key to partnering with this local resource to ensure a safer and more enjoyable outdoor environment for everyone.

Location and Accessibility

The Bay County Mosquito Services office is conveniently situated to serve the community and coordinate field operations across the county. You can find their main office at the following address, centrally located within Bay City:

• 810 Livingston St, Bay City, MI 48708, USA

As a local government office committed to serving all Michigan citizens, accessibility is prioritized. The facility ensures that visitors can easily conduct business by offering a fully accessible environment:

• Wheelchair Accessible Entrance
• Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot

This commitment ensures that every resident, regardless of mobility, has the ability to connect directly with the administrative team, drop off materials, or discuss service requests in person. However, many residents' interactions are typically handled via phone, which is often the most direct way to initiate a service request for your specific area.

Services Offered

Bay County Mosquito Services utilizes an Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) strategy, which involves a multi-pronged approach to control mosquito populations across various life stages. This methodology ensures that control efforts are as effective and efficient as possible, while also being environmentally responsible. The core services provided include:

• Mosquito and Disease Surveillance: Daily operations of the Biology Department, which is the cornerstone of the program, involve setting, collecting, and analyzing adult mosquito traps (e.g., New Jersey Light Traps, CDC Traps, Gravid Traps) to monitor population levels and species composition.
• Vector Control & Disease Testing: Trapped mosquitoes and collected deceased birds (like American Crows and Blue Jays) are rigorously tested for the presence of mosquito-borne viruses, including West Nile Virus (WNV), St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE), and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). This critical data dictates the need and priority of treatment applications to protect public health.
• Larval Mosquito Control (Larviciding): This proactive approach targets mosquitoes in their immature stages (larvae and pupae) before they can emerge as biting adults. Technicians inspect and treat over 15,000 potential breeding sites—including ditches, catch basins, ponds, flooded fields, and woodlots—annually. This accounts for approximately 70% of the program's control efforts.
• Spring Aerial Larviciding Program: Large-scale application of bacterial larvicides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), to approximately 50,000 acres of seasonally flooded woodlots in the early spring, dramatically reducing the population of early-season mosquitoes. Bti is an organic, naturally occurring soil bacterium that is highly effective against mosquito larvae but harmless to humans, pets, fish, and other wildlife.
• Adult Mosquito Control (Adulticiding/Fogging): This supplementary service involves the Ultra Low Volume (ULV) aerosol application of EPA-approved insecticides, dispensed from truck-mounted units, to control adult mosquitoes in flight. Fogging is performed at night when mosquitoes are most active and is initiated based on surveillance data (trap counts, disease activity) and citizen service requests.
• Source Reduction and Public Education: Community outreach through printed materials, presentations, and a robust online presence to educate residents on eliminating backyard breeding sources—the "Tip and Toss" motto for standing water in containers, rain barrels, and birdbaths. The program also conducts annual Scrap Tire Drives to eliminate a common, significant breeding habitat.
• Response to Service Requests: Citizens can call in to report high mosquito annoyance levels. These calls are essential, as they are used as one of the key indicators, along with scientific data, to determine where fogging routes should be targeted for the greatest impact on public comfort.

Features / Highlights

Bay County Mosquito Services stands out in the region for its dedication to public health and its advanced, professional operating procedures.

• Data-Driven Operations: Treatment decisions for both larval and adult control are not arbitrary; they are based on a foundation of scientific data collected daily by the Biology Department, ensuring resources are directed where the need is greatest, whether due to high populations or disease risk.
• Prioritization of Larval Control: The program proactively commits approximately 70% of its operational efforts to controlling larvae before they become biting adults, which is the most efficient and economical method of management. This focus reduces the necessity for broad-scale adult fogging.
• Environmentally Conscious Product Use: The service primarily utilizes "green" products for larval control, such as Bti, which is a bacterial product that specifically targets mosquito larvae while having minimal impact on other wildlife and beneficial insects. All applications, including adulticides, are conducted by State of Michigan certified technicians in strict conformance with EPA and label requirements.
• Public Health Focus: The program's core purpose is protecting the community from diseases like West Nile Virus, making it a critical public health defense line for Bay County residents. Surveillance is often heightened prior to major community events and festivals to ensure public safety.
• Community Engagement: The team actively engages with the public through school visits, educational materials, and a commitment to maintaining courteous and responsive customer relations, utilizing citizen input to refine their treatment strategies.

Contact Information

Connecting with Bay County Mosquito Services is straightforward for anyone in the Michigan region needing assistance or information.

• Address: 810 Livingston St, Bay City, MI 48708, USA
• Phone: (989) 894-4555

If you have a service request, such as reporting a high annoyance level of mosquitoes in your neighborhood, or have questions about the spray routes and schedules, calling the number is the best way to get a timely and official response. Their operational schedules are often updated daily, and the team relies on citizen calls to supplement their scientific surveillance in determining areas of concern.

What is Worth Choosing Bay County Mosquito Services

For residents across Bay County and the greater Michigan region, choosing to rely on Bay County Mosquito Services means entrusting your family's health and comfort to a professional, science-based organization. This is a local government office designed to serve you, and they bring significant expertise and resources to the challenge of mosquito control.

Unlike individual, sporadic efforts, the county-wide approach ensures comprehensive coverage and sustained reduction of mosquito populations over the entire season. The rigorous biological surveillance—constantly trapping, counting, and testing mosquitoes for disease—means that their actions are driven by genuine public health necessity, not guesswork. Their commitment to the Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) principles means they prioritize environmentally safer methods like larval control, significantly reducing the overall mosquito population before they can ever take flight. Furthermore, all treatment is conducted by certified technicians, who must adhere to stringent state and federal regulations concerning the application of all control materials. This professional oversight is your guarantee that procedures are followed to minimize risk and maximize effectiveness. By calling in service requests, you become a direct partner in their efforts, helping to ensure that the ULV fogging, when necessary, is accurately targeted to the areas where residents are experiencing the greatest biting pressure. Choosing this essential local service is choosing a safer, healthier, and more enjoyable outdoor living environment in Michigan.

Bay County Mosquito Services

810 Livingston St, Bay City, MI 48708, USA