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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Title: Asian giant honet" style='position:absolute;margin-left:224.1pt;margin-top:11.25pt;width:275.3pt;height:183.75pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="367" height="245" style="width:3.8229in;height:2.552in" src="cid:image005.jpg@01D5CD3A.35F1E460" align="right" hspace="12" alt="Title: Asian giant honet" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]>The
 Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has confirmed that Asian giant hornets have been found in Washington State after two separate confirmed sightings in British Columbia last fall.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Asian giant hornet is a predator of honeybees. A few hornets can kill an entire hive in a matter of hours. The hornets then defend the hive as their own and take the brood to their own nest to feed their young.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>HOW YOU CAN HELP<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">WSDA requests that you report Asian giant hornets if you see them or the aftermath of a hive attack. For more information about the Asian giant hornet or to report a suspected sighting, please go to
<a href="http://agr.wa.gov/hornets">agr.wa.gov/hornets</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please share this information with beekeepers, family, and friends.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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 INFORMED<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can stay updated about the Asian giant hornet two ways: <o:p>
</o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]>Join the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/hornets">
Asian giant hornet watch Facebook group</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]>Join the <a href="https://listserv.agr.wa.gov/scripts/wa-AGRWA.exe?SUBED1=AGR-PESTPROGRAM&A=1">
WSDA pest program email list</a>. (Be sure to uncheck the other topics and only leave the Asian giant hornet topic selected when you sign up.)
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you in advance for your help spreading the word about this invasive threat to honeybees.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Karla Salp </span></b><span style="color:black">| Public Engagement Specialist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Communications </span><span style="color:black">| Washington State Department of Agriculture<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">Office:</span></b><span style="color:black"> (360) 902-2178 
</span><span style="color:black">| Cell: (360) 480-5397<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:black">Email communications with state employees are public records and may be subject to disclosure, pursuant to Ch. 42.56 RCW.</span></i><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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