Image Credit: David Cappaert via Invasive Species Council of BC

By Michael Reeve

JAPANESE BEETLES

Kamloops enacting new procedures to limit the spread of Japanese beetles

Jun 12, 2025 | 4:42 PM

KAMLOOPS — An expansive area of Kamloops has now been designated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as a regulated area where Japanese beetles have been detected.

The area covers a number of riverfront properties on the south shore of Kamloops, as well as a large swath of homes and businesses downtown and in the Sagebrush neighbourhood from Sixth Avenue to the east.

Regulated area (image credit – city of Kamloops)

While some treatment work was done last month, the city is urging people — especially users of Exhibition Park, which includes Charles Anderson Stadium and the Kamloops Rugby Club — to take precautions so that they don’t inadvertently spread these beetles to other parts of Kamloops.

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“The regulated area will be finalized this Friday, June 13 by CFIA, and the city will share that media release from CFIA to make residents aware of that,” Danielle Sparks, the city’s environmental services supervisor said during Tuesday’s (June 10) council meeting.

“We will also be going forward with providing residents or homeowners, or property owners within the regulated area a letter to make them aware of the regulated area and everything that entails within that.”

Kamloops Civic Operations will also be making some changes with regards to work within the area. That will include increased cleaning procedures to limit cross contamination with other parts of the city. For residents in the affected area, the impacts will be minimal and will be tied to their yard waste and compost.

“We are also re-routing trucks to ensure we are not inadvertently dragging material across the city from this affected area,” Civic Operations Director Jen Fretz added. “Everything is staying within that area and then it’s going to Grassland Organics for composting.”

“The only challenge residents will have is if they have more yard waste material,” added Fretz. “Say you are doing a massive cleanup and you have more than will fit in your cart, that is when it is on to you to apply for a movement certificate. But if you can fit everything in your cart, there is nothing extra required from you.”

There is no cost to obtain that certificate, and it will be required in order to move regulated articles like plants, soil and turf out of the area.

Sparks previously told CFJC Today the CFIA provides routine surveillance between June 15 and Oct. 15, meaning it could be winter or early next year when Kamloops will find out if more beetles have been detected.

She also confirmed another round of treatment work will be required next year as restrictions in the regulated area will only be eased if there are two consecutive years where no Japanese beetles are detected.

“It’s a species we don’t want in B.C. It doesn’t belong here, it comes from afar and it will actually attack over 300 different plant species and destroy your turf,” Gail Wallin, the executive director of the Invasive Species Council of B.C. told CFJC in January.

“There’s all of us willing to work with Kamloops to help B.C. become Japanese beetle free. That’s our goal.”

– With files from Victor Kaisar/CFJC Today