Pinellas County Mosquito Control Helicopters in St. Pete

Low flying helicopters over St. Pete today

8 posts · 335 views · started 6d ago

1. Nov 5, 2026, 8:59 AM#1
   1. Saw low-flying choppers rattling window frames across mid-county and St. Pete this morning. 2. People on social media were already starting rumors about police chases or military drills. 3. It was just Pinellas County Mosquito Control running routine aerial larvae treatments over targeted marshy and wet areas in Clearwater and St. Pete on Thursday. Here is the official update if anyone was wondering what was going on: https://pinellas.gov/news/mosquito-control-conducts-aerial-larvae-treatments-in-clearwater-and-st-pete-on-thursday/

   Change your 1-inch filters monthly. Don't set your AC below 72.

2. Nov 5, 2026, 9:13 AM#2
   Stood in gridlock on I-275 right past the Ulmerton bottleneck because everybody decided to slam on their brakes to gawk at a helicopter dropping down over the trees. Typical DOT nightmare. People cannot stay in their lane for five seconds without staring at the sky while traffic backs up all the way to the HFT on-ramp.

   Use the zipper merge, people! | '04 Tacoma 280k miles

3. Nov 5, 2026, 9:44 AM#3
   Back in the late 90s we did not have county press releases dropping onto our smartphones every time a helicopter buzzed the treetops over the marsh! You kids get so panicked over every little noise in the sky! We used to just see the spray planes rattling the tin roofs near Clam Bayou and keep right on tending our gardens, but nowadays everybody thinks it is a developer buying up another block to put up five-story glass boxes!!! If it keeps the salt marsh mosquitoes from eating us alive down here near the border then let them fly as low as they want!

   Keep Gulfport Weird | 1984 Boston Whaler 13

4. Nov 5, 2026, 10:26 AM#4
   Need them over the marshy areas before the next HIGH TIDE rolls in. Standing water in the storm drains sits for days after a minor KING TIDE anyway. If larvae are not treated now, the whole neighborhood becomes an unusable swamp.

   2017 Key West 189FS | Flooded 4x | High tide app pinned

5. Nov 5, 2026, 11:41 AM#5
   Good. Mosquitoes ruin early morning Redfish trips. Keep jet skiers away next.

   24' Pathfinder TE | Yamaha 250 | Tight lines

6. Nov 5, 2026, 1:19 PM#6
   So sorry if this is a silly question, but do these helicopter treatments mean we should not take toddlers to the playground today???? Are the chemicals they use for aerial larvae control safe for kids playing outside right after, or should we stay indoors until tomorrow? Also, does anyone know if this helps with the tiny midges around the island or just regular mosquitoes? :)

   Asking questions is how we learn! 😊

7. Nov 5, 2026, 3:34 PM#7
   The aircraft were flying remarkably low over the historic districts this morning; the vibration actually caused an old sash weight in my 1925 Craftsman bungalow to rattle loose inside the frame. While aerial vector control is necessary for public health, property owners in historic preservation zones should ensure their attic vents are properly screened so these routine treatments stay outdoors.

   1925 Craftsman | Native Flora Only | No Vinyl Siding Allowed

8. Nov 5, 2026, 6:34 PM#8
   Hey everyone! I was so confused when I heard them buzzing right over our roof in Woodlawn! I am so glad Dan shared the county link because my spouse thought it was a news crew checking out traffic! Is quarterly mosquito spraying something we should also hire a private pest company for, or does the county aerial treatment usually handle most of it for our yards?!

   First time homeowner | Learning as I go!