SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) —With the influx of mosquitoes, people are looking to soothe itchy bites, but solutions are getting harder to find. Stores in Sioux Falls are dealing with empty shelves due to the high demand.
If you are wondering just how bad the mosquitoes are in Sioux Falls, all you need to do is look at these shelves.
“Bugs have been everybody’s biggest concern really started last week, Thursday, Friday and through the weekend. Everything that we had on the shelves, our cutter sprays, our on-body sprays, our yard sprays, our failures, everything sold out over the weekend at all locations,” Ace store manager at West 41st Street location Jared Pigott said.
“We have the perfect storm for mosquitoes. We’ve had all that moisture that we hadn’t showed. And now things are heating up a little bit,” Category Manager/Buyer Doug Schroeder said.
As store shelves empty out, some people are turning to friends and neighbors for help keeping the pesky insects away.
“I’m okay because I have a pretty good supply yet. And I loaned some to my neighbor and they’re checking online and they’re looking all over. So, I don’t know what’s out there anymore, but I know the bug spray cans are all gone,” Oscar Deuries said.
But these shelves won’t stay empty for long, Ace Hardware is taking steps so no one has to go without.
“We sent a driver from Sioux Falls to pick up an emergency load that should be here later today. We know how much of a need it is for the community, and we’re doing everything we can to get restocked today so we can help people out,” Pigott said.
And help people get back outside to enjoy the summer weather.
“this is one of the worst infestations that we’ve had in many, many years. I’m fortunate I’m not mosquitoes are not attracted to me. I must taste bad,” Deuries said.
“They’re just nasty little creatures,” Deuries said.
