If you haven't been outside recently, take note that it's mosquito season.

Summertime heat and rain comes with the blood-sucking guests, and a local government program offers tips for controlling the insects and mitigating potential health risks.

The Baldwin County Commission's Mosquito Control Program includes mosquito surveillance, which will consist of sampling mosquito populations throughout the county's unincorporated areas at flexible geographical trap locations. This sampling will be conducted weekly from approximately mid-April through mid-August and include taxonomic identification and testing for common mosquito-borne diseases.

The county will also implement including aerial spraying along with larviciding and ultra-low volume (ULV) adulticiding directed at mosquito breeding sites and geographical areas of larval and adult mosquito populations as is determined by surveillance.

If you live on a road maintained by the Baldwin County Highway Department, your road is eligible to be sprayed by Vector Disease Control International (VDCI). To submit a service request in your area, call VDCI at 1-800-256-1784 or visit https://www.vdci.net/. If you live inside city limits, contact your municipality for guidance.

Here are some tips to help you control mosquitoes in your area:

STOP RAISING MOSQUITOES IN YOUR YARD

• Don't leave exterior doors propped open.
• Empty any items that hold waters such as tires, buckets, flowerpots, kiddie pools and trash containers. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water.
• Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets and rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
• Fill in holes or depressions in your yard where water tends to collect.
• Keep weeds, vines, hedges and grass trimmed; mosquitoes use these shady areas as resting places.
• Use outdoor flying insect spray where mosquitoes rest — in dark, humid areas like under patio furniture or under the carport or garage. When using insecticides, always follow label instructions.
• For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
• Use larvicides to treat large containers of water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be covered or poured out.
• Hire a pest control expert to treat your yard and outdoor areas with long-lasting insecticide or larvicide to control mosquitoes.
• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets. Keep drains and gutters unclogged so water doesn't collect in these areas.
• Keep your grass cut.
• Use landscaping to your advantage — plant citronella, marigolds, pennyroyal and geraniums as mosquito repellants.
• Use fans.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO INSIDE YOUR HOME

• Keep window and door screens in good repair.
• Use air conditioning when possible.
• Keep mosquitoes from laying eggs inside your home. Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover or throw out any items that hold water like vases and flowerpot saucers.
• Kill mosquitoes inside your home. Use an indoor flying insect fogger or indoor insect spray to kill mosquitoes and treat areas where they rest. These products work immediately but may need to be reapplied. Always follow label directions. Only using insecticide will not keep your home free of mosquitoes.
• Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid places like under the sink, in closets, under furniture or in the laundry room.
• Use fans.