Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 08:49:33 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Gail Mackiernan Subject: Fire Ant alert Okay -- just when you thought it was safe to back into the ...fields... I received a notice from MD Dept. of Ag that several nests of the dreaded Fire Ant (bane of birders in southern states) have been found in Maryland. It appears that in some protected conditions these introduced ants can survive our winters. MDA thinks that these ants have been introduced into the state with nursery (plant) stock from southern areas where they are common. Probably all of us who have birded in the south can recognize a fire ant nest. (If you are unsure, stand back and poke it with a long stick -- if a hoard of tiny, angry little red jobs come out and start to eat you alive, you have found them!) If you see one, MDA asks that you contact them at 410-841-5920. Just another little natural hazard to watch out for....! Gail Mackiernan ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================