Fire-Ant Battle Gaining Ground

* Re “County Escalates Its Ground War Against Fire Ant,” Feb. 25:

Thank you for the article describing the very difficult job faced by the Orange County Fire Ant Authority as we attempt to do what some believe is impossible: completely eradicate the red imported fire ant from Orange County. However, our most recent data show that we are winning the war against this dangerous ant--an ant that threatens our entire way of life.

We have just completed our first year (the authority was created in January 2000) of treatment. The protocol requires repeat mound treatments every 90 days for one year. The necessity is indicative of how hard this ant is to kill. Out of the 272 mounds receiving four treatments over one year, only two remain viable, and those can be dealt with with other aggressive measures. As other mounds receive their fourth treatment, we expect the same results. This eradication program was always defined as a five-year program, so we consider winning over 99% of the battles a giant leap toward winning the war.

Your headline said the Fire Ant Authority has only a big bill to show for its efforts. Not only would the above data prove otherwise, but also everyone involved in this battle stated at the outset that success would not come cheaply. Defeating this ant requires total commitment, which the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the County Board of Supervisors and the Vector Control District Board of Trustees realize must be made.

When one considers that it costs the major metropolitan areas of Texas $580 million annually just to control this dangerous pest, our $4-million budget seems money well spent. Ask those citizens here who have had to deal with this ant whether their tax dollars should be spent to eradicate it. I have, and the answer is always the same: “Absolutely!”

RICHARD A. BOWEN

Program manager

Orange County Fire Ant Authority