Buzz off

How to survive mosquito season in Austin: 6 natural remedies that work

Mosquitos only need a teaspoon of standing water to hatch eggs.

Austin loves its outdoor activities, from concerts to cookouts. But nothing ruins a great time like biting mosquitos, especially since the pesky bugs transmit diseases such as West Nile and Zika viruses to humans and heartworms in dogs.

Many of us resort to wearing chemical repellents or clothing that covers as much of our skin as possible. The former can leave you sticky and smelly, the latter is simply miserable in the Texas heat. Plus, when the whole family goes outdoors, it makes sense to use an area rather than individual body approach.

My neighborhood Listserv has been abuzz with complaints about mosquitos since the temperature started climbing a few months ago. Here are a few of the tried and true devices and treatments folks in the ‘hood use to keep mosquitos out of their balcony, patio, or backyard.

DynaTrap
This device works based on the fact that mosquitoes are attracted to body heat and can sense carbon dioxide — which human beings exhale — from up to 100 feet away. DynaTrap emits heat and CO2 as well as specific wavelengths of UV light that attract the bugs. Mosquitoes do not travel long distances, often staying within an acre area. Therefore, every mosquito caught eliminates the potential of hundreds or thousands of mosquito eggs, effectively breaking the mosquito life cycle. Empty the trap periodically and replace the bulb roughly every four months or 3,000 hours. Available at H-E-B and Home Depot.

Mosquito Magnet
The priciest option, but a neighbor insists this trap is worth it. (Personally, I spent an evening on their lovely patio and didn’t see a single mosquito.) Mosquito Magnet emits carbon dioxide, heat, and moisture to attract mosquitoes from an area up to an acre. The manufacturer recommends operating continuously (even when you’re not outside) to break the mosquito breeding cycle. It runs on a propane tank and mosquitoes end up in self-contained, disposable traps. You’ll need to buy replacement attractant packs and traps periodically.

Thermacell
This EPA-evaluated and approved device repels mosquitoes from a 15-foot zone around it using Allethrin, a synthetic version of a naturally occurring repellent found in chrysanthemums. According to the manufacturer, Thermacell is at least ten times more effective than citronella candles, and runs on a butane cartridge using scented mats. It comes with one cartridge and three mats that last four hours each. (Refill packs include 12 mats and four fuel cartridges.) I tested one on my patio after the recent heavy rains. As I set it up, a mosquito buzzed around my arm, but when I sat outside 30 minutes later, I didn't see a single one.

Mouthwash and beer
Another neighbor swears by a homemade mouthwash-and-beer spray. Spray the concoction around the yard wherever you spend time outdoors. It doesn’t hurt plants, pets, or grass and some websites claim it will last about 10 weeks between applications.

Here’s one recipe: 16 ounces of mint-flavored mouthwash, 3 cups Epsom salts and three stale, 12-ounce cheap beers (no need to waste the good stuff!). Place everything in a large bowl and mix using a spoon until all the salt has dissolved. Pour into a spray bottle. For the most nature-friendly version, use organic mouthwash, and lavender or eucalyptus scented Epsom salts will work even better.

Plants
Plants such as lemongrass, rosemary, sage, and basil repel mosquitos and are useful herbs as well. (Peppermint and catnip also repel mosquitoes but are invasive.) Marigolds do double duty repelling mosquitos and other pests and adding color while doing it. Surround your patio with these plants in pots or the ground and before your cookout, scatter handfuls of their leaves around the area. Burning branches of rosemary on the grill also helps. Find these plants locally at Natural Gardener or The Great Outdoors Garden Center. Natural Gardener also sells repelling granules, sticks, and other natural outdoor methods.

Holistic anti-mosquito practices
In place of or in addition to the above methods, consider a holistic natural approach. This involves creating a healthy ecosystem in your yard with mosquito-repelling plants and habitat that attracts birds, reptiles, and insects that eat mosquitos such as damselflies. Build a bat house to attract these insect-eaters, too. The National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat guidelines are a good place to start. Avoid use of pesticides, which kill good critters along with bad.

It is important to eliminate all standing water, as mosquitoes travel only a few hundred feet from where they hatch. Dog bowls and birdbaths are fine as long as you replace the water every few days. While most people know mosquitoes need standing water to breed, few realize a mere teaspoon is enough. Just overwatering your grass can create sufficient water to support mosquito eggs and larvae. Call 3-1-1 to report standing water that is not on your property and the City of Austin will take care of it.

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San Antonio leads Texas on ending horse-drawn carriage rides by 2030

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Horses will no longer pull carriages on the streets of downtown San Antonio.

San Antonio has pulled off something that the rest of Texas has yet to do, but it didn't come without some contentious conversations. City Council has unanimously voted (with one abstention) to phase out the use of horse-drawn carriages over the next five years. That means by January 1, 2030, there will be none on the streets at all; instead, there will be electric carriages.

These plans have been in the making since 2022 — if not always at the same level of intensity — when District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran wrote up some concerns about the horses' wellbeing. A special session at the end of October 2024 hinted to San Antonians that the end for this practice was neigh — sorry, nigh — and the final vote was made on December 12. In addition to accepting the plan, it extended its timeframe by two years.

The initial proposal included worries about the horses' exposure to traffic and pollution, as well how their presence might exacerbate those issues for the environment at large by slowing traffic. It also raised concerns about the effects of standing or walking on hard surfaces for too long, or spending time in extreme weather.

At the December 12 meeting, San Antonians gave impassioned speeches about animal welfare — both to call attention to the need for better conditions and to defend the reputations and jobs of current horse drivers — but it wasn't the first time the council heard from the public about the issue.

In a prior city survey, 50,476 respondents weighed in. Of those respondents, 51.98 percent said they liked the idea to "Transition horse-drawn carriages to electric carriages and pedicabs and ban horse drawn carriages completely." There were alternative solutions listed, but respondents were less drawn to them.

A cultural divide emerged in the data and continued in the December meeting: some people avoided the carriages because they worried about the treatment of the horses, while others enjoyed them because of their historical echoes and living legacy. Many speakers in favor of the plan used this to form their argument, raising questions about history versus progress.

More tangible objections to the plan hinged on the businesses — specifically five companies — and jobs that would be lost, which was the main factor behind extending the adjustment period.

Discussions about the particulars of the electric vehicles are still to come, as confirmed in the discussion near the end of the meeting. Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez addressed concerns about what would happen to the horses, mentioning the Brady Hunter Foundation as a future partner in finding them rescue homes.

Some council members also brought up rhetorical questions about animal exploitation by groups like Sea World, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, military and police forces, and even various groups in the Fiesta parade, although these did not come with a formal motion to pick the issues up.

This decision could have a ripple effect on other Texas cities. Dallas has recently considered a similar ban, but it appears to have stalled; Austin's attempts at a ban have been unsuccessful, but according to the Austin-American Statesman, only one operator is permitted to bring horses downtown. She declines to do so because the long hours are unfair to her and the horses. Houston does have horse-drawn carriages, and there seems to be little conversation about banning them.

Cities like Chicago and Salt Lake City have led the charge in the United States with some of the most prominent successful bans. Other cities around the world with bans include Brussels and Guadalajara, which both switched to electric models. Bans that have been around for years, like Guadalajara's and Prague's, still aren't out of the woods — people are still pushing back on the decision, so it sounds like San Antonio still has much work cut out for it.

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