CLARE COUNTY GYPSY MOTH SUPPRESSION PROGRAM

Last November, Clare County residents passed a millage for the suppression of the gypsy moth issue in the county. Since that time, the Clare County Conservation District (CCCD) has worked to count egg masses of properties effected, sent letters to home owners, and worked with the State of Michigan to ensure the spraying was done to state legal specifications. Questions and concerns recently have surfaced.

The exact verbiage of the millage follows:

“County of Clare
Gypsy Moth Special Millage Question

For the purpose of authorizing funding for the Clare County Gypsy Moth Suppression Program to monitor, control, and reduce Gypsy Moth outbreaks in Clare County….”

With associated costs of the program and the amount of egg masses located throughout the County, spraying the entire county was not feasible. The millage runs through 2024 and spraying will continue in the upcoming years.

Therefore, the intent of the CCCD is to continue to plan, count, monitor, and spray various parcels in the upcoming years. As noted, the millage is NOT an eradication program. It is a suppression program. Unfortunately, the Gypsy Moth is a statewide issue and not just a Clare County issue.

Spraying occurred in mid-May and the spray has worked. Staff has been out to do follow up and they are finding that the spray has been nearly 80% effective. The staff will be out in the field again in the upcoming weeks and will be continuing to monitor the situation. This is a year round process for the scientists of the CCCD. Plans are being made for the spray program to take place again in the spring of 2022. Watch for letters from and the CCSCD for more information.

Landowners can help by following the below guidelines to try and further suppress the infestations.

• https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/Invasive_species/Gypsy-Moth/gypsy-moth-around-home
• https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/Invasive_species/Gypsy-Moth/index