Early builders responsible for laying the first foundations of Fort El Morro in 1539 weren’t worried about attacks from fire ants; they were more concerned with imminent invasions.  Today, however, those maintaining the grounds do have to deal with these intrusive, non-native pests.  Introduced to the United States in the 1930s through the port of Mobile, AL, and soon after to Puerto Rico, these pests currently infest the entire island.  Their sting causes itching and burning, and is potentially dangerous to those allergic to their venom.

One company is doing their part to stop the threat of fire ants, one infested area at a time. The grounds of Fort El Morro received a donation of TopChoice™ fire ant control from Oliver Exterminating, a local pest control company, and Bayer Environmental Science, developers of the TopChoice technology. TopChoice, a professionally-applied granular insecticide spread on grass and plant beds like fertilizer, provides unsurpassed control of fire ants for a full year with a single application.

This donation treatment came as part of an educational campaign aimed at raising awareness of fire ants and their growth as a public health threat.  Bayer Environmental Science and Oliver Exterminating want to get the word out to the public that fire ants are a significant danger and there is now a better way to control and prevent them.

“I’ve seen first hand how dangerous fire ants can be to people and pets. At Oliver Exterminating, we want San Juan-area families to know there is a better way to help keep your loved ones safe from these dangerous creatures,” said Richard Wagner, general manager of Oliver Exterminating. “TopChoice attains unsurpassed control of fire ants, eliminating existing mounds and preventing new mounds from forming. It is a truly revolutionary way to fight fire ants.”

Built over a period of more than 200 years, and the heart of the San Juan fortifications, Fort El Morro is Puerto Rico’s best-known fortress.  Sitting high atop a promontory overlook, with its hidden passages and 60-foot walls, this dramatic fort now welcomes arriving cruise ships and seaplanes to the busiest port in the Caribbean, San Juan Bay.  Over 1.2 million visitors a year visit the massive structure, which along with the Forts of San Cristobal and Juan de La Cruz comprise San Juan National Historic Site, a unit of the U.S. National Park System.


Results to Date

One month after being treated with TopChoice, the grounds of Fort El Morro are fire ant free.  TopChoice, backed by Bayer, is guaranteed to prevent fire ant populations for up to one year.  Oliver Exterminating will continue to inspect the property and will return to treat again the following year. 

"With so many visitors each year, we can’t take chances with fire ants. We are excited to be able to provide a new level of fire ant control to those visiting Fort El Morro,” says Walter J. Chavez, superintendent, San Juan National Historic Site. “Fort El Morro suffered countless attacks in the past, and now it is our responsibility to protect it, and the grounds that surround it, and make sure it is a pleasant and safe experience for every visitor.”

Recent studies indicate that fire ants, which currently infest more than 325 million acres across the southern United States and Puerto Rico, sting more than 20 million adults and children each year. This number will continue to grow as fire ants move north and west. Studies also show that 10 to 15 percent of those stung by fire ants experience severe localized allergic reactions, with one to two percent experiencing dangerous systemic reactions that, in rare cases, result in death. Symptoms of fire ants stings that may require immediate medical attention include shortness of breath, thickening of the tongue, nausea, sweating, dizziness or chest pain.

“Within the first four to six weeks of a TopChoice application, ants unknowingly come in contact with the product and bring it back to contaminate and eliminate the rest of the mound in what is known as the “Domino Effect™,” says Jorge Moreno, Bayer Environmental Science. “Unlike temporary fixes, the Domino Effect means the entire ant colony is destroyed, not just surface ants. The product remains in the soil to prevent new colonies from forming.”

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 successfully used on tens of thousands of acres throughout the South including areas of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

TopChoice is a product of Bayer Environmental Science, a leading manufacturer of pest control technology. TopChoice is a registered trademark of Bayer AG.

Oliver Exterminating has been in the pest control business since 1956, serving all of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.  Oliver Exterminating provides all general pest control services as well as bio remediation.  For more information call 787-764-2000.