Pest control officers provide residents with identification and control strategies for agricultural pests. Field scouting is carried out for identification of pests under the agricultural pests act such as clubroot, and fusarium graminearum. Staff will assist when possible with identification and control advice for horticultural insects and disease. Inspectors participate in Provincial grasshopper survey. Any Norway rat sightings are investigated by Agricultural Fieldman and if confirmed the Problem Wildlife Division of Alberta Agriculture will be informed and rat eradication program will be implemented. Beaver control is used to prevent or reduce the flooding of County infrastructure and to aid farmers in controlling flooding of agricultural lands. Ponoka County hires seasonal beaver trappers to control beavers that affect County infrastructure and property. The ASB coordinates with Public Works department to clean affected culverts and bridges in accordance with provincial and federal regulations and codes of practice. Beaver dams may be removed using explosives following provincial and federal regulations, and best practices. Because landowners are restricted from purchasing explosives, the ASB offers the service of beaver dam blasting by the Fieldman and Assistant Fieldman. Dams are removed at the discretion of the licensed blaster.