Yes, they are a pest, and yes they are a very real health hazard. Two years ago my husband and I were both very sick because we picked up a viral infection from them and we lost one horse to the same type of infection. It took a week in the hospital for doctors to figure it out and that was after our vet diagnosed the horses and started treatment on them. Had I not mentioned to the doctors the vet's diagnosis, they might still be looking. I figure it cost us about $5,000 out of pocket for us and the livestock.
We got some of the high-pitched blaster horns and set them to go off every 5 minutes for the first week, then 10, then 15. We also sprayed all of our trees weekly with liquid sulfur.
Last year we had a few but not the hundreds we have had in the past. We will continue this year and hopefully we will not have any. Even if this is a yearly thing from now on it will be worth it.
Marilynn Reeves
Iowa Park, Texas
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