Doña Ana County Vector Control will host a bring-your-own-bucket event at its renovated minnow pond and mini-park Saturday, Aug. 25, offering free gambusia fish to anyone living in Las Cruces or Doña Ana County.
The giveaway is part of an ongoing effort to help county residents control the mosquito population and reduce the potential for West Nile virus and other diseases.
“The spring and summer months were very successful in getting these fish out in the community where they are most effective,” said Doña Ana County Vector Control supervisor Kenneth Scholar. “Now that we’re getting into the fall months, mosquitoes are still a very real threat.”
Gambusia can eat five times their weight in mosquito larvae each day, and are also strong breeders. According to Scholar, it only takes between six and 12 fish in any standing body of water to eradicate the mosquito population on a half-acre of land.
The fish giveaway runs Saturday at the minnow pond from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bags will be offered at the site or you can bring your own container.
The ponds are located at 4605 Picacho, directly across from Picacho Hills Drive. For more information or to schedule a separate time to pick up fish, call (575) 644-0886.