WSDA seeks public input in adding hornets to a list of quarantined pests

Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is seeking public input on a proposal that would classify the Asian giant hornet, and all other hornets in the state, as quarantined pests. This would mean the state agency is guaranteed onto private property when eradicating a nest and state law will prohibit the sale and trade of live hornets.

The public can give WSDA oral comment in a virtual conference or written comment by Tuesday, May 11. If passed, the proposed amendments to Washington Administrative Code’s chapter 16-470 would go into effect June 18, just as queens are expected to begin foraging out of their nests.

If a hornet nest is located, WSDA would alert any property owners within 20 meters of the nest that the area is designated as an infestation site. No one could enter until WSDA declared the area clear of infestation, according to the proposal. People who live within 20 meters of the nest would still have access to their property, WSDA public engagement specialist Karla Salp said.

The move to have all hornet species quarantined comes, in part, from the Asian giant hornet’s fall 2019 emergence in Blaine, but also because of detections of other hornet species, none of which are native in the U.S., Salp said.

“Given that there are no native Vespa (hornet) species in the country, and that any of them could have potentially serious negative impacts to agriculture, it seemed prudent to include the entire genus, rather than going through the rule process each time one might be introduced,” Salp told The Northern Light.

Transporting and selling live Asian giant hornets would also become illegal under state law if hornets are classified as a quarantine pest, Salp said. The proposal states that scientists would be allowed to obtain live hornets for research on things such as lures, behavior and the movement of queens.

“WSDA is not currently aware of any businesses within the state that sell or distribute hornet species,” the proposal reads.

Violating the state’s quarantined pest law could result in fines such as $5,000 per offense, but Salp said every offense is situational and WSDA would choose to educate people over fines.

The gypsy moth and apple maggot are the two other pests quarantined in Washington state, according to the WSDA website.

For more information on how to join the WSDA public hearing on Microsoft Teams, visit bit.ly/32bWV6k.

Written comments can be submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11 by emailing wsdarulescomments@agr.wa.gov, sending mail to WSDA agency rules coordinator Gloriann Robinson at WSDA PO Box 42560 Olympia, Washington 98504-2560 or faxing 360/902-2092 to Gloriann Robinson.