The Invasive Species Council of B.C. is commending Burnaby's GardenWorks for dealing with its infestation of the European fire ant, an invasive species known to swarm and sting people and pets.
The council - a non-profit, non-government organization - praised GardenWorks for "going public" about an infestation of fire ants at the Mandeville location in the south of the city.
"Basically, if you get an invasive species, there are some people keeping it quiet, because they don't want other people to know they've got (fire ants)," said Gail Wallin, executive director of the council. "GardenWorks said they've got it, and they are taking aggressive action."
The NOW first reported on European fire ants at the Mandeville location on March 31, after a tip from a reader. Ant expert Robert Higgins confirmed that the centre had fire ants, but only after checking with GardenWorks to see if the owners were comfortable with releasing the information to the public, which they were.
"They could have said no, and there are other businesses and other property owners that are keeping quiet," Wallin said, adding that the business took action to prevent the ants from spreading. "The response plan they have is very aggressive."
GardenWorks is paving over an area of the centre's southern perimeter, where the ants are, and is planning to try out some new traps this summer.
