To protect City of Cranbrook parks and neighbourhood trees from the invasive spongy moth, the Ministry of Forests will be spraying residential and municipal areas of Cranbrook later this spring.

The Ministry of Forests says it has developed a plan to safely treat residential and municipal areas in the province.

A free, online open house is set for Tuesday, February 6 at 5:30 p.m. including the B.C. Spongy Moth Technical Advisory Committee (Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canadian Forest Service, Invasive Species Council of B.C.) and other experts.

You can visit www.gov.bc.ca/spongy-news for more information, maps and more.

Follow the ‘Open House’ link on our Spongy Moth News Page: www.gov.bc.ca/spongy-news or by phone: 778-401-6289 (PIN: 878 539 693#).

The 2023 spongy moth trapping data revealed that spongy moths are establishing in Cranbrook, Kamloops, West Kelowna, Langley and Tsawwassen. Proven and safe treatments are required to eliminate the populations and prevent further spread.

Aircraft will be used to apply a biological insecticide, Foray 48B.

The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (Btk), which occurs naturally in soil and is commonly used in organic agriculture. This treatment is effective at eradicating spongy moths. It impacts only moth and butterfly caterpillars that eat sprayed leaves.

Repeat scientific study concludes the proposed treatment poses no threat to people. Btk does not impact livestock, pets, birds, fish, spiders, bees, ladybugs, or amphibians, the provincial government said.

Specialists will provide program information and answer questions about the 2023 trapping season and the 2024 treatment areas during the virtual open house.

BC Government images

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