For a change, racing fans were the only visitors at Talladega Superspeedway last season.
For the first time ever, the 1,400-acre track and surrounding areas were treated with Extinguish Plus fire ant bait. The preseason application covered the entire facility, including campgrounds, and was one of the largest agricultural applications attempted in Alabama.
"Fire ants pose a potentially serious medical threat to people and animals," explains Dr. Fudd Graham, coordinator of the Alabama Fire Ant Management Program. "They also damage property - an estimated $5 billion annually in the United States alone."
In the past, many NASCAR fans brought their own fire ant products to races, and facility employees worked under threat of fire ants.
"Fans approached us after the season to shake hands and thank us for taking care of the fire ant problem," says Graham. "Many individuals had brought their own fire ant products but ended up not needing to use them since our treatment worked so well."
One such fan was Charlie Trecek of Madison, Wis., who camped at Talladega last
September. "Even though we were right in the middle of what is commonly considered fire ant territory, we didn't see even a single ant," he said. "We camped comfortably knowing that the area had been treated. We'll definitely be back again this year."
Graham added that Talladega workers shared with him how happy they were to work without the threat of fire ants.
Extinguish Plus quickly kills adult fire ants while rendering the queens sterile and unable to sustain their colonies. It also destroys visible and hidden colonies and prevents colony relocation.
For more information, visit www.extinguishplus.com. - NU |
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