In our area, we are cautioned against leaving any water standing, as it's a breeding ground for mosquitos. Maybe this is not true in other parts of the country, but both Triple E (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) and West Nile Virus have been found in mosquitos in Massachusetts, and can be harmful to humans as well as animals. People are regularly cautioned to check around their property for buckets, tires (like a tire swing), or anything else that catches rainwater, and to empty them out.

Thankfully, we're not experiencing the same extreme temperatures as much of the rest of the nation.