FIRE ANT PROGRAM STATUS

     

Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) were discovered in Orange County late in 1998. The California Department of Food and Agriculture, the County of Orange, and the Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD) joined forces in an effort to eradicate this pest. RIFA has been identified and treated in nurseries, parks, schoolyards, golf courses, private residences, and industrial and commercial centers.

Countywide outreach activities disseminated fire ant information to residents on how to identify RIFA, who to call to report, and updates on fire ant activity in their communities. The Orange County Fire Ant Authority was successful beyond anyone's expectations, and was an international model of fire ant control.

In October of 2003, the State was forced to curtail all fire ant programs and ended its contract with the County of Orange, eliminating State funding. Orange County property owners approved a benefit assessment to provide local funding for resuming fire ant treatment within the County. From the result of this ballot vote, the OCVCD Board of Trustees on August 5 2004 approved an assessment to reestablish fire ant management.

Vector Control will be partnering with certified pest control operators to control Red Imported Fire Ants.