The City of Kingston reports it is continuing last year’s pilot project to determine the effectiveness of using a garlic-based product to keep mosquitoes and ticks away from the dog park area of Grass Creek Park and Rotary Park.
This natural repellent – not harmful to people or animals, but having a “powerful effect” on mosquitoes and ticks – will be applied every three to four weeks throughout the spring, summer and fall.
“These insects have a sense of smell that is 10,000 times more sensitive than ours and, lucky for us, they don’t like garlic,” said Operations Manager Troy Stubinski in a City release.
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The garlic-based spray will also be applied along the side of the road and sidewalk at Centennial Drive between Crossfield and Atkinson to determine if it keeps geese from walking across the street and creating a traffic hazard, as they do not like the taste of the repellent on the grass they eat.
Information from this project will be used by staff to identify resource and budget requirements for expanding the use of garlic-based repellent to other frequented locations.
The City reminds residents that many parks have planned naturalized areas that are intentionally left to grow wild, advising visitors to stay on pathways when enjoying non-wild walks to avoid ticks.
Also check out KFL&A Public Health resources to learn how to protect your family and pets from Lyme disease carried by ticks as well as West Nile Virus carried by mosquitoes.
More information about information about this project can be found on the City’s Ticks & Mosquitoes page.
