Gypsy Moth Meeting rescheduled for Feb. 3

Meeting on February 2nd rescheduled due to inclement weather Public Meeting Scheduled on the 2011 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program in Dane County February 3, 2011 7:00 pm Lyman F. Anderson Agriculture & Conservation Center 1 Fen Oak Court - Conference Room 121A Madison, WI 53718 Dane County Parks, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Dane County Tree Board will hold a public information forum about the 2011 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program in Dane County on February 2, 2011. The meeting will be held at 7:00 pm at the Lyman Anderson Agriculture and Conservation Center, 1 Fen Oak Court, Madison WI 53718. Representatives from the three agencies will provide information on the biology and life cycle of the gypsy moth and discuss gypsy moth management and control. Questions from the public will be welcomed. The gypsy moth population is down statewide and in Dane County. However, there are still certain locations within the County that have similar or higher populations than last year. The gypsy moth can be a serious tree pest. In large populations, gypsy moths can defoliate trees and kill those that are already under stress. In addition, some people experience allergic reactions caused by contact with gypsy moth egg cases or caterpillars. The Gypsy Moth Suppression Program is intended to help reduce these effects. In mid-May to early June, a small low-flying airplane will apply Foray®, a bacterial insecticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk). Btk is a naturally occurring strain of soil bacteria that produces proteins that interact with bacteria in the digestive tracts of gypsy moth caterpillars to cause 90-95% mortality. Commonly used by organic gardeners to control pests, Btk has no apparent toxicity to people, animals, or insects other than caterpillars For 2011, there are 15 proposed treatment blocks, covering approximately 917acres within Dane County. In comparison in 2010 there were 45 treatment blocks covering 2,954 acres within the county. The 2011 treatment blocks include 12 sites in the City of Madison, one in the City of Monona and two in the Town of Middleton. An overview map and details about each treatment block can be found below. Treatment Block (Spray Block) maps will also be available for viewing on the Dane County web site http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/gypsy_moth.aspx and in early February at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources web site: http://gypsymoth.wi.gov/. Landowners and residents within the proposed treatment blocks have the option to request that their property or residence (as well as a 250 square foot buffer area) not be treated by writing to Darren Marsh, Parks Division, Dane County Land and Water Resources, 1 Fen Oak Court, Madison, WI 53718. Objection requests must be received in writing by February 18, 2011.

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