Does it seem like mosquitoes are here sooner and more than ever this year? Even though it’s March and you made it through the winter without cleaning your gutters, you may want to have an inspection to ensure there is no standing water. We had a great wet winter season thankfully, but with that comes more moisture and standing water in places you might not think. It only takes one clogged downspout to create standing water in your gutters, that plus the leaves and other debris in your gutters make for a perfect breeding ground for the mosquito life-cycle. The nutrients from the leaves and the moisture in the water help to create the ideal environment for these pesky critters. We have cleaned hundreds of gutters in the last 17 years, and I’ve encountered some pretty unusual situations. Last week we removed a full-sized sunflower plant from a gutter. On another occasion, we were cleaning gutters near the Nimbus fish hatchery and, a shock to us, we actually found a fish carcass in the gutters! I know you’re probably thinking how? Did the fish swim up to the top of the roof? Was it a flying fish? In this case, a hawk or an eagle had fished it from the river and enjoyed a nice meal on the roof. Whether you have standing water, a fish carcass, or a tropical garden, growing in your gutter, it’s best to have them professionally cleaned. Clean gutters will reduce the mosquito breeding cycle around your home. It is a good time of year to check for standing water in fountains, buckets, and drains, especially with mosquitoes in the area at an all-time high. Have a safe and healthy spring season. Let’s keep 2024 clean and safe.
John Shanahan,
