Nevada County Announces 2026 Mosquito Fish Giveaways
Environmental Health Department offers drive-thru events to control larvae in standing water.
Mosquito fish eat mosquito larvae present in stagnant water.
NEVADA CITY — Nevada County’s Environmental Health Department has scheduled five free mosquito fish giveaways for 2026. The events will take place on Thursdays and Tuesdays from May through July at the Nevada County Government Center parking lot in Nevada City. Residents can obtain the fish to place in private ponds, watering troughs, birdbaths, and unused swimming pools.
“Mosquito fish are named because they consume mosquito larvae in ponds or other standing bodies of water,” explained Amy Irani-Leaverton, Environmental Health Director. “They are an effective tool to reduce the mosquito population without chemicals.”
The program supports broader efforts to fight the bite and lower the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus. Officials also recommend that residents remove standing water from buckets, pots, tires, and bins around their properties.
The giveaway has operated as an annual event for more than 15 years under the Environmental Health Department’s Vector Control Program. The department provides breeding stock fish and on-site consultations upon request.
The mosquito fish pickup route at the Nevada County Government Center in Nevada City. Credit: Nevada County.
Residents may participate in the drive-thru events held from 10 AM to noon. Dates include Thursday, May 14, Thursday, May 28, Tuesday, June 9, Tuesday, June 23, and Tuesday, July 7. Attendees must remain in their vehicles, follow signage for the new pickup route, and use provided containers to transport fish home safely.
Fish must reach the destination pond within two hours of pickup. The program serves only Nevada County properties. Residents can also call the Vector Control Program at (530) 265-1500 to arrange pickup outside scheduled dates or to request consultations.
County materials state that one female mosquito fish can eat hundreds of mosquito larvae per day and produce multiple broods of young. California Fish and Game maintains a regional policy that allows the establishment of these fish for mosquito control purposes in appropriate settings.
The fish work best in closed or stagnant water systems that do not drain into local creeks or streams. Officials note that mosquito fish are a non-native, invasive species and should not enter natural waterways because of potential negative impacts on native ecosystems. Ponds that already contain larger fish do not need mosquito fish.
For temporary standing water that cannot be drained, the department suggests using store-bought bacterial larvicides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, as an alternative. These products are described as safe for the environment when used as directed.