Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project

- 86 Willow St, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675

Introduction / Overview

For anyone who calls Cape Cod home, or even those who visit the Massachusetts coastline during the warmer months, the presence of mosquitoes is an inescapable fact of life. More than just a nuisance, these insects pose a critical public health risk, carrying diseases such as West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Protecting the comfort and health of residents across Barnstable County is the dedicated mission of the **Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project (CCMCP)**.

Established officially in 1930 (with roots tracing back to 1928), the CCMCP is a government-funded organization that operates year-round to provide professional **Mosquito Control** across all 15 towns of Cape Cod. Unlike private, for-profit **Pest control service** companies, the CCMCP adheres to a rigorous and environmentally conscious philosophy known as **Integrated Pest Management (IPM)**. Their objective is clear: to reduce the mosquito population below levels that cause annoyance and, most importantly, to prevent the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases by targeting the pest in its most vulnerable stage—the larval stage—before it can become an adult.

This commitment to a scientifically sound, public health-focused strategy, combined with a local understanding of the Cape’s unique geographic makeup and waterways, makes the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project an essential resource for all Massachusetts users in the region. Their work is a quiet but crucial part of maintaining the high quality of life that residents of the Cape enjoy.

Location and Accessibility

The central hub for the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project is conveniently located in Yarmouth Port, providing a strategic base for operations that span the entirety of Barnstable County. This central location ensures their crews can quickly and efficiently access areas across the Cape, from Bourne to Provincetown, responding to surveillance findings and resident service requests.

The Project's administrative and operational office is located at: **86 Willow St, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675, USA**.

As a public service organization, the CCMCP encourages resident involvement, particularly when it comes to reporting mosquito activity or requesting service. Residents can contact the Project directly to learn more about the program in their specific town, submit a service request, or inquire about the current status of mosquito-borne disease surveillance. This direct line of communication is essential for the success of their community-based IPM approach.

Services Offered

The CCMCP provides a comprehensive, year-round **Integrated Pest Management** plan with key components that work together to manage the mosquito population. The services are proactive, focusing heavily on eliminating mosquitoes before they hatch.

• **Mosquito Surveillance and Monitoring**: Weekly deployment and collection of specialized mosquito traps (like light traps with CO2) across the county. Collected mosquitoes are counted, identified, and sent to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) lab for testing for arboviruses like EEE and WNV.
• **Larval Mosquito Treatment**: The primary and most environmentally sound control method. Treatment of mosquito larvae in known freshwater and saltwater breeding habitats using biological **Pesticide Application** (like Bti), which only targets the mosquito larvae. This occurs from approximately April through October.
• **Water Management and Source Reduction**: Year-round work involving the mechanical removal of sediment, debris, and other **Blocked Drainage** from existing waterways (ditches, culverts, streams). This eliminates stagnant water conditions, which are ideal for mosquito breeding.
• **Adult Mosquito Control (Adulticiding)**: Targeted ground-level application of adulticides in localized areas of high mosquito levels, or where disease has been detected. This is done at peak mosquito activity times (dusk or dawn) using EPA and state-registered products by licensed applicators.
• **Greenhead Fly Control**: While primarily focused on mosquitoes, the Project also includes control measures for other nuisance insects, such as **Fly Control Control**, to manage Greenhead fly populations along certain coastal areas of the Cape.
• **Public Education and Outreach**: Providing educational materials, presentations, and resources to residents, schools, and civic groups on mosquito biology, how to reduce breeding areas on private property (source reduction), and personal protection.
• **Pest Inspection (Larval Surveys)**: Daily site inspections and surveys of known mosquito habitats using standard dipping techniques to check for the presence of mosquito larvae before any treatment is initiated.

Features / Highlights

The Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project stands out in the **Pest control service** industry due to its public health mandate, comprehensive methodology, and commitment to environmental safety in Massachusetts.

• **Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy**: CCMCP’s operations are built entirely on IPM, prioritizing methods that are effective yet minimally invasive to the environment, primarily targeting the aquatic, larval stages.
• **Focus on Public Health**: The core mission is to manage disease vectors. All control methods are data-driven, based on current surveillance and testing results from the MDPH, making it an essential public safety function for the Cape.
• **Year-Round Operation**: Unlike seasonal private companies, the CCMCP operates 12 months a year. Winter work is critical for **Water Management**, including clearing **Blocked Drainage** and re-cutting ditches to prevent standing water in the spring.
• **Environmental Responsibility**: They use biological pesticides, such as Bti, which are highly specific to mosquito larvae, and work under strict federal and state regulations to protect wetlands and other wildlife.
• **Wide-Ranging Authority**: The Project serves all 15 towns in Barnstable County, ensuring a coordinated, region-wide defense against mosquito populations that can easily migrate across town lines, unlike isolated control efforts.
• **Free Service Requests**: Residents can call the office to request a **Pest Inspection** or service on their property at no direct charge, which is a major benefit of the public funding model.

Contact Information

If you are a resident in any of the 15 towns on Cape Cod, you can contact the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project for service requests, to inquire about surveillance results, or for public education materials.

Address: 86 Willow St, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675, USA

Phone: (508) 775-1510

Mobile Phone: +1 508-775-1510

What is worth choosing

For Massachusetts residents on Cape Cod, choosing to rely on the **Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project** is simply the most reliable and responsible choice for community-wide **Mosquito Management**. It is not a matter of choosing a vendor, but supporting and utilizing a necessary public service.

What is worth choosing is the peace of mind that comes from a control strategy backed by over 90 years of experience and dedicated scientific research. The CCMCP is mandated to protect the public health and is directly involved in state-level monitoring for dangerous viruses. Private services focus on your yard; the CCMCP focuses on the entire county. Their commitment to **Integrated Pest Management**, which prioritizes **Larval Mosquito Treatment** and preventative **Water Management** over widespread adult spraying, means you are getting the most environmentally sound and proactive control possible.

Moreover, utilizing the CCMCP’s resources ensures that your concerns contribute directly to the Project's surveillance data, allowing them to make the best decisions about when and where **Pesticide Application** is truly justified to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness. For any citizen of Cape Cod, participating in their program by reporting issues and requesting free inspections is the most effective way to protect your family and your community from both nuisance mosquitoes and the diseases they carry.

Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project

86 Willow St, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675, USA