Drones Take To the Skies In Anoka County To Combat Mosquito Surge

Drones Take To the Skies In Anoka County To Combat Mosquito Surge

Coon Rapids, MN — The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) is deploying new high-capacity drones this summer as part of an expanded effort to control mosquito populations across Anoka County.

Armed with two T-25 agricultural drones, MMCD staff are targeting mosquito larvae in hard-to-reach wetlands and expansive swamp areas using GPS-guided precision. Each drone can carry up to 40 pounds of the granular larvicide spinosad, allowing them to efficiently treat large mosquito breeding grounds without the limitations faced by traditional application methods.

“We did see a lot of cattail mosquitoes coming out this year,” said Rosa Mueller, Field Operations Supervisor at MMCD. “These new drones allow us to treat sites that are too large for hand treatment, too small or unsafe for our technicians, and not ideal for helicopter coverage.”

MMCD drone pilot and supervisor John Lundquist explained that treatment follows a consistent, cyclical schedule. “The idea is we have three rounds of pre-hatch lasting 30 days. So all these sites will be treated roughly every 30 days and we'll have treatment through early August,” he said.

One such treatment area is located near Main Street and Highway 10 in Coon Rapids, where stagnant swamp water provides ideal conditions for mosquito larvae. By proactively targeting larvae before they hatch, MMCD aims to reduce the overall number of biting mosquitoes affecting local residents.

In total, the agency anticipates applying around 20,000 pounds of larvicide across Anoka County this season. Application methods will vary by terrain and site access, including hand application, aerial helicopter treatments, and drone dispersal.

Residents can find up-to-date information on daily treatment schedules, including planned helicopter activity, on the MMCD’s official website at www.mmcd.org.

MinneapoliMedia