Portage la Prairie's fight against the mosquito population is changing strategies. City Councillor Melissa Draycott outlines the new plan.

Melissa Draycott"Moving forward we did approve that the City of Portage la Prairie would move to a new mosquito control policy. And we did authorize an expenditure of up to $2,000 for the purchase of four New Jersey standard light mosquito traps. These mosquito traps in essence will allow us to trap mosquitoes, and therefore catch them. They're maybe a little more health sensitive to the workers."

She notes how the insects will be counted.

"Instead of standing outside and counting the number of mosquitoes that actually land on a person, we're able to trap them effectively, and count them in order to determine when fogging should take place. We did look at other communities in Manitoba that are using these traps to see how they're working for them, and what their restrictions are, and what their requirements are."

Winnipeg, Altona and Winkler are currently using these traps for their efforts. Draycott says council can't know if this will mean less fogging or not, but there is the potential for an increase due to this more scientific and accurate approach. She adds they'd like to see the traps implemented later this summer. However, seeing as summer is half over, they may have to wait until next year. She adds lift stations will be the locations for the traps due to the power required to operate them, and they'll be scattered throughout the city.