Collier Mosquito Control District’s Wide-Ranging Impact On Our Community

By Patrick Linn, MS, MSHAPI
Executive Director, Collier Mosquito Control District

When thinking about mosquito control, most probably picture the sights and sounds of an airplane flying overhead or a turbine attached to a pick-up truck driving down their street. These methods of mosquito treatment are vital in protecting the health and well-being of the residents we serve, but they also only scratch the surface of the vast positive impact Collier Mosquito Control District(CMCD) leaves on our community.

On any given day, CMCD team members can be found in local classrooms, at community outreach events or giving tours of our facilities to educate the community on mosquito control and help empower residents and visitors to protect themselves and their property.

Left to right: Sara Grant, Scott Hendricks, Derrick Klein and Jesvia Alvarado from Collier Mosquito Control District hand out educational materials and mosquito traps at the Big Bus Event in Immokalee on November 4, 2023

Through a robust education program that teaches the science of mosquito control, CMCD is ingrained in Collier County’s schools’ curriculum. The program brings hands-on labs and activities to the classroom, which allows students to think like scientists while also learning about the unique ecology of their hometown. Students learn about the different species of mosquitoes in the community and how to identify them, as well as how to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

In addition to educational activities in the classroom, CMCD reaches thousands of residents and visitors every year at various fairs, parades and other outreach events around the area. Opportunities like the annual “Big Bus” event in Immokalee allow our team to reach underserved areas of Collier County. At these events, we can answer questions and provide educational materials. We also offer free tools like mosquito traps and repellents to help people protect themselves and their property from these insects.

CMCD also conducts dozens of tours of our facility in Naples every year. We take guests through our lab, operations center and hangar so they can get a firsthand look at what a day in the life of mosquito control is like. During the tour, they can also ask our scientists and field staff questions to learn more about how mosquitoes are managed and studied in Collier County. CMCD’s doors are open to the public, and anyone wishing to learn more about mosquito control is welcome to email info@cmcd.org to schedule a tour for themselves or a small group.

The Collier Mosquito Control District often brings aircraft like this helicopter to community events to help children learn about aviation and mosquito control.

Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal in the world, and the dangerous diseases they can carry kill up to a million people a year worldwide. CMCD’s education and outreach efforts are designed to be informative and help our entire community take proactive measures to help protect themselves and their loved ones from the health risks and nuisance of mosquito bites. As a member of the Southwest Florida community, we view it as central to our mission to participate in these events and educational opportunities to advance good public health in our community.

To learn more about the Florida Mosquito Control Association, visit their website at www.yourfmca.org.

To learn more about the District or to sign up to receive treatment notifications, visit our website at www.cmcd.org.

The Collier Mosquito Control District works to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our residents through the safest and most economical means available. If you would like more information about how we control mosquitoes, please visit our website at cmcd.org or call us 239-436-1000.