Following the invasion of the United States by the boll weevil in 1892, it took another 100 years before this key cotton pest was able to overcome the harsh climatic conditions of the High Plains and make an end run around a very successful 28 year containment program that utilized late season insecticide applications against potential diapausing weevils. While most of the earlier High Plains boll weevil infestations were located in the southern acreage and fields near the eastern Caprock Escarpment, continued mild winters and warm open Falls have fostered continued spread generally toward the northwest. Initially thought to be relatively safe from the development of widespread economically damaging boll weevil infestations, recent trap and overwintering site survey data indicates the northwest area of the High Plains is not immune to this pest. Cotton farmers in this area, not wanting to wait on the appearance of widespread damaging infestations elected to initiate eradication in the fall of 1999 along with two of the other four remaining High Plains zones. While the first year eradication program probably will not meet its stated goal of 90% reduction of the emerging 2000 population, it has gone a long way in significantly reducing the number of boll weevils that made it to overwintering sites in 1999. This should provide a good start toward the northwest cotton producer's goal of avoiding the inevitable battle with the boll weevil that has already become routine for many farmers to the south, even though weevils have only been in the High Plains for seven years.