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Pinellas digestBy Times staff reports
© St. Petersburg Times, Aerial spraying resumes to control mosquitoesAfter being grounded for a month because of concerns over airborne terrorism, a Pinellas County mosquito control helicopter resumed flights Wednesday. During that month, the mosquito population boomed, though not to summertime levels, said Mike Detert, assistant mosquito control district director. Officials first used the red-and-white Bell 47 helicopter, similar to the one seen on the television show M*A*S*H, to spray a granular mosquito larvicide over salt marshes in the Feather Sound and Gandy areas. Today officials plan to use the helicopter to spread bait laced with rabies vaccine near Old Coachman Road in Clearwater. The helicopter will fly between 6:45 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. on any given day. Concerned residents can call (727) 464-7503. Officials had no immediate plans to fly in north Pinellas because it did not get as much rain as south Pinellas over the weekend. If it does rain, Detert said residents should empty containers where mosquitoes can breed. "That's the surest way of getting rid of mosquitoes," he said. "Check your own back yard."
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
