Hawai'i County has extended its Coqui Frog Community Loan Sprayer program that was slated to end at the end of April.

It was previously announced that the program would end with a public auction of the county's coqui frog-spraying equipment.

Hawai'i County Mayor Billy Kenoi announced yesterday that the program will continue to loan 26 county sprayers to coqui "cooperators," or organizations that control frogs in their communities.

The county also employs its own two-member crew for coqui control.

But after April 30, because of budget constraints, the county will no longer be doing its own spraying to control coqui frogs. Community cooperators may continue using the equipment at no cost but they will be responsible for costs related to the sprayers, including repairs and spraying materials, the mayor's office said.

The coqui frog community loan sprayer program will be moved from the mayor's office to the agriculture office in the Department of Research and Development.

Until April 30, callers with coqui concerns may call 961-8065 for more information and referral to one of the community cooperators to borrow a sprayer.