TNRD conducting mosquito control work near Kamloops Airport, up North Thompson corridor

May 14, 2026 | 3:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — Residents may see helicopters flying near the Kamloops Airport as the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) conducts aerial treatments for mosquitoes.

Low-flying helicopters will be dropping Vectobac 200G to areas infested with mosquito larvae near the airport and in Mission Flats late on Thursday (May 14) afternoon and early Friday.

On Saturday, the team will move operations to Barriere, McLure, Darfield, Blackpool, East Blackpool and Clearwater. If necessary, work in these areas could continue into Sunday.

“Vectobac 200G is an organic water-dispersible granule of a naturally occurring bacterium that is used to control mosquito larvae. It is not harmful to non-target organisms including fish, livestock or humans,” said the TNRD.

The TNRD said their Nuisance Mosquito Control program is selective in where this treatment is used.

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“Vectobac 200G could indirectly affect fish productivity by affecting a food source of mosquito larvae; therefore, only areas that do not support fish populations are suitable for mosquito control,” said TNRD officials.

“As a result, only areas that are separate from the Thompson River and North Thompson River, and do not support fish populations, are suitable for larvicide treatment.”

The TNRD said the mosquito reduction program launched in 1971.

“At first, the program consisted solely of aerial applications to control adult populations of mosquitoes,” said the TNRD.

“With the advancement of new products such as biological larvicides, which do not harm fish habitats, the program has shifted to an environmentally-safe practice of controlling mosquito larval populations before they emerge as adults.”

The TNRD conducts this program in Electoral Areas J, L, M, N, O, P and a portion of Area A, and the municipalities of Barriere, Chase, Clearwater, Kamloops, Logan Lake and Sun Peaks.

The TNRD said it will make further announcements if more treatment areas are identified.

by Elora McCormack

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TNRD conducting mosquito control work near Kamloops Airport, up North Thompson corridor

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