Orkin, Bayer ES Help Preserve Historic San Jacinto Battleground

HOUSTON, Texas — The famous Battle that brought Texas its independence was fought at the San Jacinto Battleground. Today, this historic site is under attack from another kind of invader, fire ants. This is why the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site will receive a 20-acre donation of TopChoice fire ant control, a professionally applied product that eliminates fire ants for a full year with just one application, according to manufacturer Bayer Environmental Science. In a joint effort, Bayer ES will donate the product, and Orkin, Inc. will donate their time and equipment to tackle the large-scale application.

“We have thousands of visitors to our historic site every year and we can’t take chances with fire ants,” says Russell Kuykendall, park manager. “Ridding the site of fire ants ties into the annual San Jacinto Day Commemoration, including the traditional ceremony and BBQ on Friday, April 21 on the grounds of the San Jacinto Monument; and the San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Reenactment on Saturday, April 22 on the San Jacinto Battleground. Last year, over 25,000 visitors attended the festival, and fire ants are definitely an issue of concern for the big event. All of these efforts will ensure that a visit to the Battleground will be a pleasant and safe experience for everyone.”

The primary purpose of the 1,200-acre site is to commemorate the Battle of San Jacinto and to preserve the Battleground where Texan troops, under General Sam Houston, achieved the independence of Texas by defeating a Mexican Army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna on April 21, 1836. The monument, which sits on the grounds, is dedicated to the heroes of the Battle of San Jacinto and all others who contributed to the independence of Texas.

“Fire ants are a particular issue in locations where tourists frequently visit and families spend a lot of time outdoors,” says Randall Davis, Bayer Environmental Science. “To protect those spending a lot of time outside, grounds managers and homeowners should consider a professionally-applied preventative insecticide like TopChoice.”

In Texas, fire ants infest the eastern two-thirds of the state and some urban areas in West Texas. It is estimated that fire ants cost Texans about $300 million annually, Bayer ES reports..

TopChoice is labeled for use on home lawns, commercial lawns, golf courses, sports fields, cemeteries, parks, school grounds and other recreational areas. It has been used throughout the South including areas of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Learn more about Orkin by visiting www.orkin.com and www.rollins.com. For more information about TopChoice visit www.bayerprocentral.com.