Public Information Meeting Set for March 6

St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and partner organizations are planning to tackle a gypsy moth infestation in parts of Minneapolis’ Lowry Hill and Kenwood neighborhoods this spring. In anticipation of the proposed treatment, the department is inviting people to learn about the effort at an informational meeting on March 6 in Minneapolis.

Gypsy moths are ranked among America’s most destructive tree pests. The insect has caused millions of dollars in damage to forests as it has spread from New England to Wisconsin in recent decades. Gypsy moth caterpillars can defoliate large sections of forest. The pests are common in Wisconsin and are now establishing themselves in Minnesota.

The MDA maintains a monitoring program to watch for start-up infestations, and when an infestation is found, the department conducts aerial treatments of the infestation before it can spread. In 2017, the MDA found a gypsy moth infestation in the Lowry Hill Neighborhood. The MDA implemented a quarantine of the area in July.  The department is now developing a treatment plan for an affected area that runs approximately from Interstate 394 on the north to West 22nd Street on the south, and Penn Avenue on the west to Lyndale and Hennepin avenues on the east. (SEE MAP) Details of the area can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/gmtreatments.

The MDA will host a meeting from 4:45 – 6:45 p.m. on March 6 to share information with citizens about the threat gypsy moths pose to the environment and how officials plan to protect the urban forest. A presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Meeting details:

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

4:45 – 6:45 p.m.

Kenwood Community Center
2101 W Franklin Avenue

Minneapolis, MN 55405

Over the years, the MDA has successfully treated dozens of gypsy moth infestations across eastern Minnesota from Grand Portage to the Twin Cities to Houston County, including treatments in Richfield and Minneapolis in 2017 and Anoka County in 2015. These successful treatments help postpone the full-scale invasion of gypsy moth, saving local communities and homeowners money and protecting the health of the state’s urban and natural forests.

For more information on the proposed treatments, go to www.mda.state.mn.us/gmtreatments.