RBC | The Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Wednesday, June 19 for a financial report for department heads and an update on the cricket situation.
Following an update of the fund balances from Finance Director Collen Kenney as required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Weed and Pest Director Jane Turnburke updated the commissioners on the current situation with the Mormon cricket outbreak.
“Crickets are exploding [in number] and getting bigger,” Turnburke said. It’s believed the aerial spraying program has caused the crickets to migrate in different directions, but they are still primarily moving southeast.
Lisa Piering, Rangely Town Administrator, said the Town of Rangely has been fairly successful keeping the crickets outside a perimeter by treating with bait daily over three or four weeks.
Crickets have been reported in Lions Canyon, at the intersection of County Rd. 7 and Hwy. 64, up Sulphur Creek near Meeker. The crickets have interrupted a road treatment project on CR 7, according to Road and Bridge Director Scott Marsh.
The aerial spraying program organized by multiple agencies this spring has sprayed 687 acres and is still active. Property owners can call the county to request spraying, but should keep in mind spraying is prohibited within 500 ft. of water sources and houses. Hay fields that are sprayed have to wait seven days before cutting and baling hay.
The crickets come in “waves” as different batches hatch and begin to migrate. Last year they were still being sighted as late as October or November. Outbreaks can last five to 10 years.
It was suggested that people riding OHVs or other vehicles through cricket migration paths should wash their vehicles to avoid transporting crickets to new locations. A cricket was reportedly found in a restroom facility at South Fork last year, far from the insect’s usual migratory path, indicating it “hitched a ride” on a vehicle.
Commissioners agreed to allocate emergency funds for the purchase of additional bait. Turnburke said additional bait has been ordered and they are awaiting shipment. Residents seeking to purchase bait from the county at $134 per bag should call 970-878-9670.
Also related to pest control, Commissioner O’Hearon said she received a call from a Rangely resident in the Wasatch Camp area who has “caught 950 mice and 4 packrats since May 7.” The resident was concerned about the surrounding houses and buildings and wanted to know what legal recourse was available through the county.
Public health can intercede, because the mice present a health risk, and the county attorney can send letters to residents seeking cooperation in getting the infestation under control. Pelletized rodenticides were outlawed by the Environmental Protection Agency in June 2011 in an effort to prevent poisoning of children and pets. Bar and paste forms are still available for purchase, as are some natural pelletized mouse control products.
Additionally, commissioners appointed O’Hearon as the voting representative for the National Association of Counties and approved a $25K spending authority limit for County Administrator Vicky Edwards.
The Tuesday, June 25 commission meeting will be covered in next week’s paper.
