TAMPA, FL — With summer just around the corner, Hillsborough County officials want to make sure backyard bloodsuckers don't ruin outdoor fun for residents. With that in mind, the county has announced plans to take its "mosquito fish" program on the road to make sure residents who want the critters at no charge can get their hands on them.



"Mosquito fish are small, native freshwater fish that eat mosquito larvae, and are ideal for controlling larvae in backyard ponds, birdbaths, fountains, animal troughs, unused swimming pools, and other standing water," county officials explained in an email. "They require no feeding and care is limited to protecting them from garden sprays, chlorine, or other chemicals used for cleaning." Get the Patch newsletter and alerts in your inbox.



The county's mosquito fish program kicked off earlier this month. Its purpose is to put fish into the hands – and backyard ponds – of residents to help control the mosquito population this summer. The program is also hoped to help prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like the Zika virus. To get a stock of free mosquito fish, all residents of Hillsborough County need to do is show up to a distribution site with a photo ID that proves their residency within the county. The fish are also available to residents of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. The county plans on bringing its specially outfitted distribution trucks to the following locations to make it more convenient for residents to get mosquito fish: