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.