• When you are outdoors, use insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Follow the directions on the package.

For more information on insect repellents and how to apply them safely, see the Insect Repellent page.

• Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors and spray repellent on clothes and exposed areas of skin. Light colored clothing can help you see mosquitoes that land on you.
  
  
• Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, notably at dawn and dusk (the first two hours after sunset).

• Eliminate areas of standing water, including bird baths and unmaintained swimming pools.

• Drain water from pool covers.

• Aerate (fountain, bubbler, etc.) ornamental pools, ponds, etc. or stock them with mosquito eating fish.

• Change the water in pet dishes twice a week.

• Drill drainage holes in tire swings, recycling containers, etc., so water drains out.

• Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they are not being used.
  

• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without tears or holes.

• Make sure gutters drain properly and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.

• Use landscaping to eliminate stagnant water that collects on your property; clean up leaf litter and similar organic debris.
  
  
• If you are outdoors in a mosquito infested area, place mosquito netting over infant carriers.

• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure.