Hillsborough County, Fla. (Sept. 11, 2024) - Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services is holding the final Mosquitofish Giveaway Event of the summer on Saturday at the Northdale Park and Recreation Center.
Saturday's event will be the sixth of the season. During this year's events, more than a thousand Hillsborough residents have taken mosquitofish home to their properties to eat mosquito larvae in their ponds and other intentional standing water features.
More than 10,000 mosquitofish have spent the summer dining on mosquito larvae in suitable habitats throughout Hillsborough County, and Mosquito Management Services' custom-built aquaculture tanks help ensure that they'll be able to continue providing healthy fish for residents.
Residents can take home free mosquitofish for the final time this year on Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon or until supplies run out. During the event, Hillsborough families also can join the Mosquito Management team at the mobile education lab, which helps residents better understand mosquito behavior so they can fight mosquito populations in their own backyard.
Free mosquitofish
Who: Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services
What: Final Mosquitofish Giveaway Event of the year
When: 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024
Where: Northdale Park and Recreation Center, 15510 Hooting Owls Pl., Tampa, FL, 33624
Things to know about the event
- To receive fish, residents must present a valid photo ID showing residence in Hillsborough County
- Staff will scan or enter your ID information into the County's mosquito database. After that step is completed, you can go inside the mobile education lab to learn more about mosquitoes or the next station to receive your mosquitofish.
- There are limited quantities. Mosquitofish are available while supplies last
Mosquitofish facts
- Mosquitofish are small, native freshwater fish that primarily eat mosquito larvae and pupae
- Place fish in standing water such as backyard ponds, fountains, rain barrels, animal troughs, and unused swimming pools to effectively and naturally manage mosquito populations
- They require no feeding, and care is limited to protecting them from garden sprays, chlorine, or other chemicals used for cleaning
- Mosquitofish do not lay eggs and require no special environment for breeding
- Mosquitofish reproduce quickly once introduced into an applicable habitat, capable of sustaining themselves in the desired environment if conditions are ideal