SUNRIVER, OR -- Four Rivers Vector Control has been out the past few weeks spraying the mosquito hatches in Southern Deschutes county. It’s a 25 square mile area, including Benham Falls and Sunriver, south to La Pine State Park.

District Manager Chad Stubblefield says this season isn’t as bad as last year, “Compared to last year it’s a cakewalk. Last year was probably the worst year up along the little Deschutes since probably 2010. But this year they are just being mosquitos. You don’t have 50 of them in your face at any given time.”

Crews have covered the area once, so far, with a poison only affecting mosquitos, midges, and black flies, applied by hand sprayers and helicopters, but are slowed by chilly weather. “It’s kind of a challenging time of year when the bugs are out during the day and it’s too cold to do any real fogging at night,” Stubblefield tells KBND News there are measures the public can take to avoid getting bit. “Repellent makes all the difference in the world. If you have Deet on they’re not going to bite you. Picaridin is another active ingredient that’s good. There’s a natural alternative, oil of lemon and eucalyptus. And also, if you can just avoid peak biting times,” he says adding residents can help, “The majority of the mosquitos are coming out of the wetlands along the rivers out here. But also, people’s yards…tires, buckets. You got to recirculate your bird bath every few days, your water features, keep it circulating.”

Surveillance crews will keep an eye on mosquito counts and watch for areas that need more treatment throughout the summer.