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Sportsman Outdoors

Spraying gypsy moths

Jack Danchak
Posted 6/2/23

In an effort to protect wildlife habitat, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is spraying nearly 110,000 acres of state game lands this spring. Spraying will start in late May and June.

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Sportsman Outdoors

Spraying gypsy moths

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In an effort to protect wildlife habitat, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is spraying nearly 110,000 acres of state game lands this spring. Spraying will start in late May and June.

The Game Commissions chief forester Paul Weiss said, “Those participating in spring gobbler seasons or otherwise enjoying state game lands may encounter aircraft spraying forested areas for gypsy moths. We recognize some hunters might be temporarily affected by these activities, but disturbances are brief, and by protecting these valuable habitats against a destructive invasive pest, the forests will provide hunters the opportunity to chase gobblers there for generations to come.” 

Most of the blocks of forest to be sprayed were to be treated within one day, often within only a few hours. The insecticide to be used is Mimic 21.V, this insecticide generally is considered safe to humans.  

Weiss noted that previous gypsy moth impacts unfortunately led forests on state game lands to transition from mast-producing mixed-oak stands to stands dominated by birch and maple, which are not nearly as beneficial to wildlife.  

Weiss said, “Oaks are the main target of gypsy moths, and they also provide the best and most reliable wildlife foods. Unfortunately, in some areas we have seen birch and maple replace the oak stands lost to past gypsy moth defoliation. This loss of acorn availability across such a potentially large area can have extremely detrimental impacts on wildlife populations ranging from chipmunks and squirrels all the way up to deer, bears and turkeys.”

Weiss also stated, “Even if the oak trees manage to survive damage caused by this defoliation, the reduction of acorn production can linger for years after. So, the Game Commission has made the decision to aggressively treat this problem to protect the wildlife resources in the immediate future as well as into the longer term.”

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