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Community Outreach and Education

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Sarasota County Mosquito Management is dedicated to providing education to the public in order to spread the message of responsible methods of keeping mosquitoes away, fighting the bite, and reducing pesticide usage.

Whether it's mosquito biology, disease, prevention, or operations: learning about mosquitoes and Mosquito Management can be interesting (and fun) for all ages!

Check out our Event Calendar below to check out upcoming events where Mosquito Management staff are participating. Calendar is subject to change.

Events

Meet Bluey the Chicken (Bluey's Birthday!) - North Port Libraries
02/07/2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

More Events

Meet the Outreach Team

Community Outreach Specialist

Carly Headshot (3)

Carly Dufficy, Community Outreach Specialist

Carly Dufficy began working with Mosquito Management in 2019. She managed customer concerns in the Mosquito Management administration section. The experiences gained from assisting customers led to an interest in developing her career towards public outreach. Then in 2023, she took on the role of Community Outreach Specialist.

When speaking of her career, Carly notes that working with mosquitoes, fish, and birds so closely was something she "never really imagined doing," but the work has become something she is passionate about. Carly is eager to discuss Mosquito Management at events throughout the community to help fight the bite and promote public health. As a pet owner, she's also incredibly interested in protecting animals from mosquitoes to prevent diseases like heartworm in dogs and cats.

Avian Outreach Specialist

Bluey, Avian Outreach Specialist

Bluey, who has been with Mosquito Management since 2022, has been Sarasota County's longest employed bird! When it came time for her to retire from her sentinel surveillance duties, staff noticed that her easy-going temperament around people made her a top choice for the job of Avian Outreach Specialist. Her main duty involves helping to educate the public about how sentinel surveillance works, and to act as an unofficial mascot. Bluey has visited locations throughout the county and has met hundreds of residents, but also loves to have visitors at her coop.

Some of Bluey's hobbies include taking dust baths, snacking on her favorite foods, and keeping her feathers clean.

What kinds of events can Mosquito Management be found at?

Schools

Parades

Facility tours

Homeowner associations

Local expos

County and state fairs

Library events

Summer camps

Science/STEM fairs

... and more!

Why is Outreach important?

There are many questions surrounding the practices of mosquito control, with often misconceptions or even misinformation. Sarasota County Mosquito Management is passionate about continued outreach efforts to ensure the public is informed about the many facets of mosquito prevention and reduction.

Adult Mosquitoes on white card

How does Outreach relate to general operations?

Not only is it good practice to have representatives to explain general operations, but one for Mosquito Management education and outreach is part of Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) guidelines.

These guidelines exist to help anyone - including the general public - to follow steps that allow for the reduction of pests in effective and environmentally friendly manners.