Ottawa Is Swarming With Mosquitoes This Fall, and It's Not Just You

Ottawa residents who thought mosquito season was winding down are getting a rude awakening this fall, according to a report from CBC. If you've found yourself swatting away bugs on an evening walk along the Rideau Canal or in your own backyard, you're far from alone.

What's Going On

CBC reports that people across the Ottawa area have been noticing more mosquitoes than they'd typically expect at this point in the year. For a lot of Ottawans, mosquito season mentally wraps up once the first cool nights of fall roll in, but this year the bugs seem to have other plans. The report highlights that this uptick has been enough to catch people's attention and get them talking, whether that's on neighbourhood social media groups or just comparing notes with the neighbours over the fence.

Why It Matters for Ottawa

Ottawa's mix of wetlands, the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa River, and countless smaller creeks and ponds makes the region naturally hospitable to mosquitoes for much of the year. That geography is part of why the city has long dealt with a robust mosquito population every spring and summer. When that activity extends further into the fall than usual, it's a noticeable shift for anyone who spends time outdoors here, whether you're walking the dog in a park in the west end, biking the pathways along the river, or just trying to enjoy a patio in the evening.

For a city that prides itself on its green spaces and outdoor lifestyle, from Gatineau Park day trips to festivals on the LeBreton Flats lands, a longer mosquito season is the kind of small but real annoyance that shapes how people plan their time outside. It can also mean adjusting habits: packing bug spray later into the year than usual, checking screens on doors and windows again, or being more mindful about standing water around the house.

What You Can Do

While CBC's report focuses on the fact that the mosquito presence is unusually high for the season, the practical takeaway for Ottawa residents is the same advice public health messaging repeats every year: keep bug spray on hand a little longer this year, and consider checking your property for standing water, since that's where mosquitoes lay their eggs. Emptying out anything that collects rainwater, like flowerpot saucers, buckets, or clogged eavestroughs, can help cut down on breeding spots close to home.

If you're heading out for an evening stroll along the canal, a run through Rockcliffe Park, or just sitting out on the deck a little later into the season than usual, it might be worth tucking a small bottle of repellent in your bag. It seems the mosquitoes haven't gotten the memo that fall has arrived.

Source: CBC