CTV News has obtained the numbers of buffer zones requested in specific areas of the city.

It may be too cold for mosquitoes, but buffer zones are still a hot topic.

Melanie Osmond lives north of Portage Ave. and applies for a buffer zone ever summer to prevent fogging in her area.

"It harms birds other insects,” she said, “I've been walking when they're fogging and it's really hard to breathe in."

Other people, like Lisa Richardson in St. James, said she prefers the nuisance of fogging to the pesky mosquitoes.

"For myself, I would prefer not to have the buffer zone there. Spraying helps so we can play outside."

CTV obtained the numbers of buffer zones requested to the city, per area, over the past three years.

Wolseley is the city leader in buffer zones with 186 requested in 2013 and 166 last summer.

Central and south-central Winnipeg made up of about 57 per cent of requests for buffer zones in 2014.

But former city entomologist Taz Stuart said buffer zones essentially reduce the effectiveness of malathion.

"When you look at nuisance fogging, the more buffer zones there are, you're actually reducing the overall effectiveness of a fogging program. So then people will be looking at products coming into their own backyards."

The company that supplies malathion to the City of Winnipeg has left the chemical business.

The city said it currently has 4,800 litres of malathion, which it says is enough for one season of fogging.

It's also still looking at alternatives for mosquito control in the future.

But when it comes to fogging, some say they are glad people still have a choice.

"Everyone should have the right to do the best thing for them and their family,” said Moira Bauer, who does not apply for a buffer zone.

In 2012, there was no fogging, limited fogging in 2013 and regular fogging last year, said the city.