Managing the mosquitoes

Deep in the woods at Gatineau's Martin Larouche Park is a man who looks like a Ghostbuster. He's sporting a big backpack, wearing a warning vest, jeans and a spray gun.

The man's name is Micheal Duhaime and he's not searching for ghosts, but mosquitos.

"I'm like a silent hero in a way," said Duhamine.

"People can go on their lawns, have BBQs  and not get bitten by mosquitos, in a way, because of what we do."

Duhamine works for a GDG Environment, a private company hired by more than 60 municipalities across Eastern Canada to control the mosquito population. They do so by spraying a biological pesticide called BTI that kills larvae. The company said the pesticide only targets mosquitos and does not impact wildlife or vegetation.

This specific area of Eastern Gatineau used to be swarming with mosquitos. Today, after years of treatment, there are hardly any in sight.

"It was too bad and filled with mosquitos," said Mark Ardis with GDG Environment.

The service is considered a Mosquito Tax and costs residents in participating neighborhoods about $20 dollars a household. The mosquito control program is initiated by the city following community complaints about the pesky insects.

"It takes the citizens to have these programs in place," said Ardis

"The city or municipality tells us what area or which neighborhoods they want us to protect and from that we will then do a survey what kind of mosquito species we have," said Ardis.

The service isn't currently in Ottawa, meaning residents will have to rely on themselves to beat the bites. That means wearing long sleeves and pants, using bug spray and ensuring there is no still water in your backyard.