Coqui Frog Eradication

[Rob Tucker]

Mainstreet Pahoa Association will present Howard Lontoc, County of Hawaii Coqui Coordinator, to provide full information on efforts to deal with the coqui problem.

There is county money available (grants to $5,000) to fight coqui.



Edited by - Rob Tucker on 03/10/2006 02:03:43

[pam jones]

I have borrowed the coqui sprayer twice free of charge from the Naniwale (sp?) community center to spray the area across the street from where I rent in HPP. I also offered to spray my neighbors yard but they displayed a degree of ambivalance like I've never seen! I was even willing to supply the lime and my own sweat equity but all they had to offer were lame excuses for me NOT to spray their property, thereby making my efforts pointless. I would hope that one of the areas of concern that might be addressed at this meeting (and those in the future w/ regard to coquis) would be information regarding the consequences of the chemicals. Other than the minimal info. I got about the hydrated lime, I know nothing of potential long term effects, and yes in spite of my best efforts not to I got a good whiff of the stuff a time or two. Honestly, the time for screwing around on this particular issue is over if not to late. If we don't all get on the same page NOW, not when the buggahs are on your doorstep but NOW, the peace and tranquility so many of us are here for will be but a distant memory. We have a friend in Orchidland that we prefer not to even talk to on the phone after dark just because of the noise from the frogs. It is a problem which really needs to be dealt with head on and full force with all guns blazzing or else we will all need to just invest in earplugs for as long as we live here.

[Brad W]

Pam, I too had a neighbor who declined help with the frogs. Said they didn't bother him one bit. Then he got one right outside his bedroom window. Now he's begging. When he finally fessed up, it was the lime that scared him. I've sprayed my place and the border plantings twice with surprisingly good results. I do it just after dark when they first start to chirp - I don't even discuss it with the neighbors, I just do it.

[pam jones]

Brad,
I thought I would do the neighborly thing and help where I could since the red beast(sprayer)was going to be in the back of my truck. It is to bad that some people can't see the trees for the forest and remain uninterested untill the problem is keeping them awake at night. The excuses were fear of damage to plants, the effect on the children, and my all time favorite, what it might do to the animals. This from people who have no problem w/ leaving their dogs tied to a tree like a mindless inanimate object 24/7. Last summer there were maybe 3 or 4 chirps, now, and it isn't even spring yet, there are so many it is hard to count. I plan to sign up for the red beast soon and will once again make my services and the cost of the chemicals (like $12.00 for a 50lb bag) available. Hey when I do get it I will post and if someone is willing to get their property sprayed I will bring the beast free of charge (maybe help by getting a bag of chemicals?), as we say in the south "I ain't scared."

[mella l]

Pam this is great for us Eden Rockers!! An experienced coqui murderess!! LOL Maybe our neighbor HADave will hire you out for Hawaiian Acers also!! Oh he will barter and is quite the tradesman I hear!!!

mella l

Edited by - mella l on 02/23/2006 23:32:39

[HADave]

A traveling coqui murderess I can see this and hear this.....Wild woman in war paint driving a phosphorescent green pickup with a 100 gallon tank on board with lettering that says BE Nocturnal. Head hung out the window singing as she drives through the neighborhood "We're going to Party Karamu, Fiesta, Forever come on and sing along.. All Night Long All Night All Night Long.......
Come on over I'll supply the Dew

http://www.benocturnal.com/?or=md.456
don't you just love it...

[pam jones]

I guess I have a more serious attitude about this plight on our land - you may laugh but you won't think it's so funny when they keep you up half the night or you realize the volumn of the 10 o'clock news is WAY louder than it used to be. The county or whoever can throw all the money in the pot they want to but untill every citizen is fed up w/ pussyfooting around and willing to fight these awful little devils it's like, well, you know in the wind. I am just willing to do more than complain about them and in spite of the mess it makes in and on my truck, I am willing to help others if I can. Not everybody is lucky enough to have a 10yr. old truck they can haul a sprayer around in for a week.

[HADave]

Easy Pam, Meant no disregard, I too would be willing to do whatever to keep these little devils at bay, but that doesn't mean one can't make light of the suject. I like to make the occaisional funny, sorry if I offended you.....

HADave

[Brad W]

Thanks Pam, count me in on the sprayer. My backpack sprayer works pretty well but I have to filter the mix to spare my pump, and it's a mess. I'll discuss getting serious with my neighbors and see if we can get some real work done. Although, if there is too much interest, I wouldn't want to tie you up, so perhaps I should just sign up for it myself. They aren't that complicated or expensive to build. I expect to learn a lot at the eradication presentation.

[pam jones]

Sorry HADave
Must be the Cherokee coming out. I am a very passionate person (just ask my husband!) and when I get on board w/ something, it's all or nothing. I've just reached the point in my own experience that they are no longer cute or funny. Now they are a downright pain in the neck! I've worked around very loud aircraft for many years and even the roar of a 737 or 777 is less intrusive than the chirp of these little monsters - especially if you are even w/in 4 or 5 feet. It hurts the eardrum. I don't have a hunter mentality (though I do enjoy backstrap if done properly) and have never been so anxious to eliminate any living thing so this is a new and rather weird experience to actually loate one of GOD'S creatures the way I do this stupid little frogs. Forgive me. pj