By Cecilia Nasmith

Though Northumberland County is sharing strategies for dealing with the gypsy moth infestation on its website, Forest Trails Co-ordinator Mike Muldoon stressed at county council's June meeting that the responsibility for this pest on private property rests with the property owner.

Even so, Northumberland County is mounting a response in the interests of protecting municipal property during this second year of a three-year outbreak.

Outbreaks typically happen every seven to 10 years and typically last three years.

“After about three years, the population starts to decline in relation to environmental and biological controls – that is historically what has kept the gypsy moth population in check,” Muldoon said.

“Cooler winters and wet springs are harder on the gypsy moth, and we haven't had that.”

As weather warms up and people want to be outside more, he said, “we have received a number of calls about the severe and distressing nature of the outbreak. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak restrictions, it's an added stress to people. Some people are actually allergic to these caterpillars as well.”

Ecological impacts include damage to oaks – their primary food source – with some trees failing to survive (and subsequently needing to be removed). Defoliation of other hardwoods has been noticed as well.

“As people contact us, we have been directing them to use different pest-management strategies, depending on the life cycle of the gypsy moth,” Muldoon said. For instance, at this point in the cycle, one reasonably reliable measure is to wrap tree trunks in burlap.

The county is doing this, he said, as well as other measures such as removing egg masses and analyzing them for ideas to help with the 2022 outbreak.

They are also collaborating with the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and Nature Conservancy of Ontario for an integrated approach.

Muldoon noted that the GRCA had gotten funding to spray insecticide over 100 acres of the 10,000-acre Ganaraska Forest.

Deputy Mayor Mandy Martin pointed out that Cramahe Township and the Municipality of Brighton are served by the Lower Trent Region Conservation Authority.

“They are taking the same approach we are,” Muldoon said.