New Fight on an Old Battlefield

During the annual reenactment of the occupation of fort Presidio La Bahia and the Goliad Massacre, the troops not only battle each other, but they face a brigade of fire ants on the front line. This year, Bayer Environmental Science and Pest Fog, Inc. are providing an arsenal of TopChoice insecticide to combat these harmful insects and keep the soldiers safe from the real danger.

For 23 years, The Crossroads of Texas Living History Association and Presidio La Bahia have staged a reenactment of the occupation of the fort by Col. Fannin and the subsequent massacre of 341 of his men and him on orders from Santa Anna.  Without warning, the reenactment soldiers are being attacked by fire ants both while they are sleeping in tents on the 3 acres of land within the fort walls and while they are lying “dead” on the ground during the battle. 

L.J. Cohen, president of Pest Fog, Inc. located in Corpus Christi, Texas, is a member of Friends of the Fort, a group of Texas history enthusiasts who make contributions to Presidio La Bahia. When Cohen decided that he’d like to apply TopChoice to the historical landmark in mid-February, Bayer donated six bags of TopChoice, which he applied across the property with a spreader connected to the rear of a golf cart. TopChoice is a professionally applied insecticide that will provide the property as much as a year of fire ant protection.  A single professional application both cures existing mounds and prevents new mounds from forming for up to one year.

Last year, the event hosted more than 4,500 visitors. Each year attendance grows. Currently more than 33,000 people visit Presidio La Bahia, with more than 7,000 of them being students.

“Living in Texas, I understand the prevailing threat of fire ants,” says Foster McWhorter, lawn and landscape market specialist with Bayer Environmental Science.  “We wanted to help protect the men and women showcasing an important event in the history of the state and the nation.”

Cohen added: “This landmark keeps history alive.  It’s gratifying to watch the soldiers perform and the families learn about this significant historical event without the concern of fire ant attacks”

Presidio La Bahia, a colonial Spanish fort that was established in 1721 and relocated to Goliad in 1749, stands as it did in 1836. The first offensive action against a Mexican military installation in the Texas Revolution took place on October 9, 1835. The first Texas declaration of independence from Mexico was signed in the chapel on Dec. 29, 1835; and the darkest day in Texas history took place on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, when Colonel Fannin and 341 of his men were executed on orders from Santa Anna.