One Burnaby resident is determined to keep the city from forgetting its promise to find a solution to the problem of pesky chafer beetles.
Linda Cappelletti, who lives in a cul-de-sac near Halifax Street, first contacted the NOW in September, after spending hundreds of dollars on a new lawn only to have raccoons, skunks and crows tear it up in search of chafer beetle grub.
When Cappelletti called the city to see what they could do to help deal with the troublesome pests, she was told it was out of their control.
After the story was published, the City of Burnaby told the NOW it was working on a solution to deal with the city-wide infestation of European chafer beetle grubs, which would likely include offering residents nematodes at a reduced rate.
So when Cappelletti reached out to the city this month in hopes it had implemented its plan to deal with the pests, she was disappointed to hear it still wasn’t up and running. She was also told she would have to pay for the nematodes once they became available.
“It’s repetitive,” she said. “I paid $4,000 in taxes and I just spent $700 on the landscaper, and you’re not even going to be giving up the product for free? Do you know how much damage is being done in Burnaby?”
Cappelletti thinks the city should be giving the nematodes out for free, especially considering the amount of damage the beetles and their predators are causing throughout Burnaby, including city land.
“This is ridiculous, and now I have to have (the landscaper) come back here and do the repairs to fix the damage these raccoons, and even skunks, have done,” she said.
In neighbouring New Westminster, when the city was experiencing its own European chafer beetle problem, it offered residents coupons for 50 per cent off the purchase of nematodes.
The City of Burnaby ran a similar program a few years ago, and Coun. Dan Johnston, former chair of the city’s environmental committee told the NOW in October that council was considering reinstating a similar program this year.
When the NOW contacted Johnston to follow up, he said it would be best to speak with the new chair of the environmental committee, Coun. Anne Kang. Kang has yet to return the NOW’s phone call.
The City of Burnaby’s website includes information and tips for getting rid of or reducing the presence of European chafer beetle, including nematode application, lawn alternatives, and Let it Grow, Naturally (the City of Burnaby’s pesticide use and control program).
