Kent County added to Delaware’s spotted lanternfly quarantine

DOVER, Del. (October 29, 2020) – Effective October 30, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) will add Kent County in its entirety to the current spotted lanternfly quarantine of New Castle County. The expansion is due to established populations of spotted lanternfly found in Smyrna, Dover, and Harrington this past week. At this point in the season, a population includes multiple adults or gravid female spotted lanternfly.

The spotted lanternfly is a destructive invasive planthopper that attacks many hosts, including trees, shrubs, orchards, grapes, and hops. The insect is detrimental to Delaware’s agricultural industry, forests, and residential areas. Due to quarantines in other states, interstate commerce will be impacted if the pest is transported out of the Delaware quarantine area.

Quarantine means that residents, businesses, or municipalities cannot move any material or object that could harbor the pest without taking precautions to prevent the spread. Adults can fly, hop, or drop onto a vehicle – meaning that this pest can be easily transported to new areas where it can create another infestation. In September through November, the female spotted lanternfly will lay several egg masses of 30 to 50 eggs wherever it chooses, especially on flat surfaces.

There is extreme concern about the timing of the finds in Kent County. A female spotted lanternfly will lay upward of 200 eggs before she dies due to cold weather. These eggs will overwinter and hatch out in the spring, creating a larger established population in 2021.

“While we understand the frustration residents have with infestations, we must focus on containing the spread of spotted lanternfly to protect Delaware and regional agriculture. Our staff will accomplish this by focusing treatments on priority properties that are pathways for the movement of spotted lanternfly such as highways, railways, public transportation, and distribution centers,” said DDA Plant Industries Administrator Jessica Inhof. “Residents can do their part by removing tree of heaven, treating for nymphs and adults from May to November, and scraping and destroying egg masses from December to May. We are asking every Delaware resident to take part in the effort to stop the spread.”

DDA continues to partner with USDA on conducting surveys and property assessments. While USDA has overseen the treatment of properties identified with the tree of heaven, DDA is unsure if the federal funding for this will be available in the future. To date, 44,423 trees have been treated with insecticides or herbicides to reduce Delaware’s spotted lanternfly population.

The tree of heaven is an important food source for the spotted lanternfly, and eliminating this invasive helps decrease the spotted lanternfly population. The tree of heaven is found in industrial parks, along highways and railways, and in unmanaged areas or vacant lots. Municipalities and businesses should prioritize destroying the female tree of heaven while leaving some male specimens as trap trees.

If identified, homeowners should remove the tree of heaven from their property. This insect will feed and lay egg masses on other species of trees and ornamentals. Currently, homeowners can use any direct contact insecticide labeled for planthoppers or leafhoppers to kill adult spotted lanternfly. We have a listing of insecticides licensed for use in Delaware on our Homeowner Spotted Lanternfly and Treatment Fact Sheet online at https://de.gov/hitchhikerbug. They can also hire a commercially licensed turf and ornamental pesticide applicator to treat their properties for these insects. Residents can help by scraping off egg masses into a bag containing rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and crushing them to destroy the eggs.

Residents are encouraged to report sightings of spotted lanternfly outside of New Castle County. Citizen reports help DDA inspectors determine how these insects are moving and which transportation pathways they are utilizing. These reports also all DDA to notify agricultural operations that have plants vulnerable to this insect. Residents can make a report by emailing HitchHikerBug@delaware.gov and including the location of the find in the subject line. Inspectors may visit the site or area to determine if a new spotted lanternfly population is present.

Any person conducting business for a commercial business, a municipality, or a government agency that requires movement of any regulated item within or from the quarantine area must have a permit, available through the DDA spotted lanternfly website. To obtain a permit, a designated individual from an organization must receive training and pass an online test to demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of the pest and quarantine requirements. This individual is then required to train other employees to inspect vehicles and products and remove any spotted lanternfly life stages. The permit demonstrates that the individual understands how to identify the pest and ensure the items transported are not carrying the insect.

The general public is encouraged to download and print the Delaware Resident Spotted Lanternfly Compliance Checklist, indicating that you inspected and know that no living life stage of the spotted lanternfly is present, on regulated articles before moving them. The checklist is available online at https://de.gov/hitchhikerbug. DDA recommends keeping the checklist in each vehicle’s glove box and noting the date when specific items on the list are inspected before transport.

Examples of regulated articles include:

Any living life stage of the spotted lanternfly
Landscaping, remodeling, or construction materials
Firewood of any species
Packing materials (e.g., wood crates, boxes)
All plants and plant parts, including all live and dead trees, perennial and annual plants, and mulch
Outdoor household articles like RVs, lawnmowers, chairs, grills, tarps, tile, stone, deck boards, and other vehicles not stored indoors.

For more detailed information regarding the quarantine, permitting, treatment, or to report a spotted lanternfly, visit the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s dedicated spotted lanternfly webpage https://de.gov/hitchhikerbug.

In February 2019, DDA initially quarantined zip codes in New Castle County where an established population of reproducing spotted lanternfly was found. The quarantine was expanded in September 2019 to include all areas of New Castle County north of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and finally included the entire county in July 2020.

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Media Contact: Stacey Hofmann, (302) 698-4542, Stacey.Hofmann@delaware.gov

DNREC issues Secretary’s Orders requiring scrap tire regulatory compliance and assesses penalties to six facilities

DOVER – DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin has issued six Notices of Administrative Penalty and Secretary’s Orders to resolve compliance issues with state regulations governing scrap tires. The Orders were issued to Bayly’s Garage in Delmar; Irfan Tire Center in Millsboro; Mall Tire Center, LLC, in Seaford; Master Tire & Auto in Georgetown; Gulab’s Tire Center, LLC in Millsboro; and West Auto Repair & Salvage, Inc. in Delmar. The Orders call for a penalty of $5,000 with an additional stipulated penalty of $1,000 per day if compliance is not achieved by the deadlines established in the Secretary’s Orders.

On Jan. 1, 2017, regulations governing the management of scrap tires became effective in Delaware. Since then, DNREC’s Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Section has conducted mass mailings and training sessions in each Delaware county to educate businesses generating scrap tires of the regulatory requirements. After the educational period for businesses ended, DNREC staff began conducting inspections at facilities accumulating scrap tires outdoors, and providing onsite guidance to those entities that were not in compliance with the new regulations, affording each the opportunity to voluntarily comply.

During these inspections, DNREC staff verify that tire retailers are registered with the Delaware Division of Revenue and are submitting the required $2 fee on every tire sold. The collected fees assist in the removal and proper disposal of scrap tires. Currently, DNREC is focusing its inspections on those businesses identified as not paying the required fee for the sale of each tire.

Each company cited by a Secretary’s Order and Notice of Administrative Penalty has 20 days to appeal the Order, or 30 days to request a public hearing regarding the Order.

The Secretary’s Orders can be found on the DNREC website at https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/secretarys-orders/.

Media contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 49, No. 159

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DNREC Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Blotter: April 9-16; Reminder for the week: Before turkey hunting, know the regulations

DOVER (April 19, 2013) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents between April 9 and April 16 made 669 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters and the general public, including 26 boating safety/fishing regulation compliance checks. Agents responded to 38 complaints and issued 24 citations. Incidents of particular note included:

On April 15, following an investigation, agents cited James J. Spence, 39, of Dover, with two counts of illegally offering antlered deer for sale and two counts of commercialization of native wildlife in connection with an online posting to sell mounted deer antlers. Spence has the option of paying the citation or requesting a court date and, if guilty on all four counts, faces a total of $2,607 in fines and court costs.
On April 13, opening day of Delaware turkey season, Fish and Wildlife agents made eight arrests involving a total of 11 charges. K-9 Enforcement agent Warden, a 7-year-old Labrador retriever, assisted agents in Sussex County by locating bait and spent shells and tracking suspects. Charges included hunting wild turkey over bait, taking non-bearded (female) wild turkey, no safety certificate, prohibited shot size and unplugged gun. Turkey violations carry a penalty starting at $250, with a mail-in ticket for the minimum offense totaling $342 with court costs.

Citations issued by violation type included the following, with the number of charges in parentheses:

Wildlife Conservation: Hunting wild turkey without required safety certificate (1), and hunting wild turkey over bait (6), Kent and Sussex counties; Hunting wild turkey with prohibited shot size (1), hunting wild turkey with unplugged shotgun (1), and illegally taking non-bearded (hen) wild turkey (2), Sussex County; Illegally offering antlered deer parts for sale (2), and commercialization of native wildlife (2), Kent County; Possession of unlawfully taken game/antlered deer (1), and littering on a state wildlife area (2), New Castle County.

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (1), Sussex County; Illegally taking striped bass from spawning area (1), New Castle County.

Boating Safety: Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets aboard (1), and no required visual distress signals (1), New Castle County.

Public Safety: Felonious possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited (1), New Castle County. (A press release on this case was issued on April 18, 2013 – click: Bear man charged with weapons, hunting violations.)

Are you AWARE?

With eight arrests on the opening day of Delaware’s 2013 turkey season, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement reminds hunters that they should review Delaware’s turkey regulations before heading out into the field. The season runs through Saturday, May 11. Regulations include:

Hunters must carry their hunter education card certifying completion of Delaware’s mandatory one-day turkey hunter education class.
Hunting on public lands is by preseason lottery permit only.
Hunters must carry their public lands permit while hunting on public lands and may only hunt the designated area and season segment/dates specified in the permit.
Bag limit is one bearded bird per year.
Birds without beards (hens) may not be taken.
Hunting wild turkey over bait is prohibited.
Hunting wild turkey with dogs is prohibited.
Temporary blinds of vegetation or camouflage are permitted.
Artificial turkey decoys are permitted.
Non-electric calls are permitted.
For safety reasons, hunters should not imitate the male gobbling call.
Shotguns in 20, 16, 12 and 10-gauge and smoothbore muzzleloading shotguns -may be used with #4, #5, or #6 steel or lead shot. (See Delaware Hunting Guide for more information.)
A longbow, compound bow or crossbow with a minimum broadhead width of 7/8 inches may be used.
For safety reasons, wearing any visible garment having red, white or blue is prohibited.
Hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
All birds taken must be checked by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the hunt at an authorized turkey check station. For a list of check stations, click Turkey Check Stations.

For more information, pick up a copy of the 2012-2013 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide at your local hunting license dealer, or check it out online at Delaware Hunting Guide .

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting and boating laws and regulations. Citizens are encouraged to report fish and wildlife and boating violations to the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section by calling 302-739-4580. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030 or online at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/Hunting/Pages/OpGameTheft.aspx .

Contact: Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement, 302-739-9913 or 302-542-6102, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 43, No. 161

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DNREC Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Blotter: April 3-9; Reminder for the week: Turkey season opens April 13

DOVER (April 12, 2013) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, between April 3 and April 9 DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents made 1,135 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters and the general public, including 12 boating safety/fishing regulation compliance checks. Agents responded to 36 complaints and issued 41 citations. Incidents of particular note included:

On April 8, following an investigation, agents arrested Howard B. Carter IV, 35, of Middletown and charged him with possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, hunting from a roadway, third degree conspiracy, hunting wild turkey without a permit, failure to register wild turkey, illegal possession of wild turkey, hunting wild turkey during a closed season and failure to wear required camouflage while hunting wild turkey. Carter was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 in New Castle and released pending a later trial in a higher court.

Agents arrested two local fugitives. On April 4, Lanier L. Bright, 41, of Millsboro, was taken into custody on a Justice of the Peace Court warrant and released after posting bail. Bright was also cited for trespassing after hours in a state wildlife area. On April 8, Sarah King, 40, of Millsboro, was taken into custody on a Justice of the Peace Court 3 warrant and committed to Sussex Correctional Institute in default of bond. King and a companion were also cited for trespassing after hours in a state wildlife area.

On April 5, a 24-year-old Wilmington man was cited for possession of an undersized snapping turtle, which the man had offered for sale online. Agents also issued a warning to the man about two other turtles found in his possession for which he did not have a permit. All three turtles were turned over to Division of Fish and Wildlife’s aquatic education staff.

Citations issued by violation type included the following, with the number of charges in parentheses:

Wildlife Conservation: Possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle (1), hunting from a roadway (1), hunting wild turkey without required permit (1), failure to register wild turkey (1), illegal possession of wild turkey (1), hunting wild turkey during a closed season (1), and failure to wear required camouflage while hunting wild turkey (1), and possession of an undersized snapping turtle (1), New Castle County; Trespassing after hours in a state wildlife area (8), illegally offering antlered deer parts for sale (2), commercialization of native wildlife (1), and an international wildlife trafficking violation for offering for sale a taxidermy-mounted bear (1)*, Sussex County.

* A press release on the commercialization of wildlife case was issued earlier this week: Milford man charged with illegally selling mounted wildlife .

Fisheries Conservation: Recreational: Unlicensed fishing (6), fishing in a closed trout stream (3), over limit trout (1), and no trout stamp (1), New Castle County.

Public Safety: Parking violations related to trout season opening day (8), New Castle County.

Other: Criminal mischief (1), and third degree conspiracy (1), Sussex County.

Are you AWARE?

The Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section reminds hunters that the 2013 Delaware spring turkey hunting season opens Saturday, April 13, and runs through Saturday, May 11. Hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise until 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Delaware hunters are reminded that they must have successfully completed a mandatory one-day turkey hunter education class before they can legally hunt wild turkeys in Delaware. Turkey hunters also are required to carry their Hunter Education Card certifying successful completion of the course. Hunting on public lands is by preseason lottery permit only. Hunters must carry their public lands permit while hunting and may only hunt the designated area and season segment/dates specified in the permit.

Bag limit is one bearded bird per year; birds without beards may not be taken. All birds taken must be checked by 2:30 p.m. on the day of the hunt at an authorized turkey check station. For a list of check stations, click Turkey Check Stations.

For more information, pick up a copy of the 2012-2013 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide at your local hunting license dealer, or check it out online at Delaware Hunting Guide.

Contact:

Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement, 302-739-9913 or 302-542-6102, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 43, No. 145

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DNREC Fish & Wildlife Enforcement Blotter: March 20-27; Reminder for the week: Life jackets, cold water precautions recommended for spring boating safety

DOVER (March 28, 2013) – To achieve public compliance through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement agents made 597 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters and the general public, including 12 boating safety checks, in which all but one vessel operator was found to be in compliance. Agents also responded to 15 complaints and issued 5 citations between March 20 and 27.

Citations issued by violation type included the following, with the number of charges in parentheses:

Wildlife Conservation: Operating a motor vehicle at excessive speed in a state wildlife area (1), operating a motor vehicle off an established roadway in a state wildlife area (1), and dumping in a state wildlife area (1), New Castle County; Trespassing after hours in a state wildlife area (1), Kent County.

Boating Safety: Insufficient number of life jackets aboard vessel (1), Kent County.

Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Training
Fish and Wildlife agents Sr. Cpl. Casey Zolper and K-9 Warden attended a week of quarterly training in Maryland March 18-22, joining Maryland Department of Natural Resources dogs and handlers to practice their tracking, evidence recovery and wildlife detection skills. Sr. Cpl. Zolper trained K-9 Warden to alert on the scent of river herring to help in locating illegally caught herring. As of this spring, Zolper and Warden have been partners for seven years. Since Warden joined the Enforcement Section in 2006, he and Zolper have tracked missing people and evasive suspects, located key evidence in wildlife conservation and criminal cases, and represented the Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section in public demonstrations of Warden’s specialized skills.

Are you AWARE?
With signs of spring in the air, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Section and the Delaware Office of Boating Safety would like to remind early season boaters and anglers of the importance of life jackets. “Statistics show that not wearing life jackets is one of the leading causes of boating fatalities in the state of Delaware as well as nationwide, and that 80 percent of these fatalities could have been prevented by life jacket use,” said Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Delaware Boating Safety Office. “Like seatbelts in automobiles, we know without question that life jackets save lives.”

In Delaware, life jackets also are the law – and the law requires that owners/operators of recreational vessels carry one readily accessible life jacket for each person aboard, and that children age 12 and younger wear a life jacket while underway in any vessel on Delaware waters. (Minimum fine for violations: $76.50)

“Vessel operators are responsible to make sure that children aboard their boat are wearing life jackets – and they can set the example by also wearing one,” Sgt. Rhodes said. “Although the law does not require ages 13 and older to wear a life jacket, we strongly recommend life jacket use by everyone aboard a vessel in Delaware waters, especially anyone with limited swimming skills. It’s a smart choice that can prevent an unnecessary tragedy.”

Even on days when the air is warm, boaters also should remember that water temperatures are still cold – currently 43 to 45 degrees, Sgt. Rhodes said, noting that immersion in cooler water can lead to hypothermia very quickly, in which the body instinctively protects its core by shutting down blood flow to limbs first. The Coast Guard recommends wearing layers for protection and warmth, including gloves and a hat. Recommended gear also includes a floatation coat or survival suit, which also acts a life jacket, or a dry suit, which keeps water out and, with thermal layers beneath, keeps warmth in.

Sgt. Rhodes added these tips:

If you fall overboard or capsize, stay with your boat for a better chance of being found sooner.
Keep clothing on to help retain heat.
Keep your cell phone in a secure pocket and sealed in a plastic bag.
Carry a personal position locator beacon, a personal emergency locator light and/or flares, and a whistle to make noise and attract the attention of rescuers.
Pack a set of dry clothing in a sealed plastic bag.
File a “float plan” with a responsible friend or family member. Include a description of your boat, when you plan to head out, who is going with you, where you plan to go and when you plan to return.

“Filing a float plan is always a good idea, because unforeseen circumstances can hit boaters in any season at any time, including a storm, engine problems, swamping, and injuries or other health issues,” Sgt. Rhodes said. “With your plans in hand, a friend or family member can call for help if you’re overdue and tell searchers where to begin looking for you, saving precious time.”

For more information on safe boating practices in Delaware, including an easy-to-use float plan form, please visit www.fw.delaware.gov/Boating/BoatingSafety.htm.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902, or Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement, 302-542-6102.

Vol. 43, No. 118

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