Santa Clarita Valley residents might notice a surge of mosquitoes during this time of the year as the area enters the autumn stages of cooler weather and seasonal rains.

Santa Clarita Valley residents were advised by the Greater Los Angeles Vector Control to be on the lookout for vulnerable parts of their homes that mosquitoes can use for breeding grounds such as rain barrels, roof gutters, and outdoor drains since they’re prone to have standing water with fallen leaves and debris.

According to the Greater L.A. Vector Control, the aforementioned conditions provide the perfect environment for mosquitoes to lay eggs and multiply in residential backyards.

The Greater L.A. Vector Control urges Santa Clarita Valley residents to take a few preventive steps, such as regularly cleaning their gutters and yard drains to keep the water flowing and prevent clogs, as stagnant water with leaves in the roof gutters can create breeding sites for mosquitoes.

The Greater L.A. Vector recommends that Santa Clarita  residents should install a 1/16 inch stainless steel mesh over drains to block mosquitoes from getting into the rainwater after they’re done cleaning the necessary home areas.

The Greater L.A. Vector also encourages Santa Clarita residents to properly seal rain barrels with tight-fitting lids and cover all openings with the 1/16 inch stainless steel mesh to keep mosquitoes out.

While this may seem like a tedious routine for the Santa Clarita residents, the Greater L.A. Vector says the purpose of screening and maintaining the aforementioned areas is to protect family members, pets, and neighbors from bites or potential mosquito-borne diseases, such as the West Nile Virus, while simultaneously reducing the risk of mosquito breeding.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.