Marin-Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control briefs Belvedere on surveillance, rats and invasive Aedes risk

Peter Bunkrude, district manager of Marin-Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control, briefed the Belvedere City Council on the district's surveillance, control programs and emerging threats. Bunkrude said the district runs more than 100 mosquito traps each week across Marin and Sonoma Counties, tested over 17,000 mosquitoes last year and inspected about 40,000 locations for potential mosquito breeding, treating roughly 16,000 sites.

Bunkrude also described a rising rodent complaint load and a planned pilot program that emphasizes contraceptive bait stations (non-toxic) and exclusion guidance rather than poisons. "Our rodent specialist will get called through a service request. We'll go out to the property, and then we'll provide an exclusion report," Bunkrude said, noting the service is funded through the district's property-tax base. He warned of the invasive Aedes aegypti threat outside Marin and Sonoma and said the district is actively trapping targeted species because Aedes can carry dengue, chikungunya and Zika.

Council members asked about the rodent program and tick surveillance. Bunkrude said tick infection rates for Borrelia in collected ticks are generally 4—5% in Marin County and that the district offers tick-removal keys and informational cards at public events. The district said it has about $13 million in annual revenue, roughly 38 technicians and staff, and plans facility upgrades to expand capacity and digital modernization. The district also noted one West Nile virus-positive dead bird was detected last year in Sonoma.

Staff and council welcomed the district's offer to support Belvedere with rodent FAQs and to coordinate public outreach as the city prepares a pilot program. Residents were encouraged to contact the district for exclusion consultations and to use the district's public education materials.