MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is accepting public comment on its planned 2025 spongy moth aerial treatment plans. Treatment plan maps, spray information, fact sheets, and other resources can be found at smaerialspray.wi.gov. Treatment plans for 2025 are dependent on federal funding.
“Multi-year population outbreaks occur roughly every decade in areas where spongy moth has established,” said Michael Falk, Forest Pest Survey and Control Unit Supervisor at DATCP. “These outbreaks have occurred across eastern and central Wisconsin over the last couple years, and our 2025 treatment plan is designed to prevent populations from spreading into uninfested regions of western Wisconsin and causing damage to our timber, nursery, and tourism industries.”
Beginning in May and continuing through July, DATCP plans to treat selected areas in western Wisconsin using low-flying planes. A total of approximately 69,065 acres at 27 sites in eight counties are scheduled for treatment. These areas have been identified as having increasing populations of spongy moth, a destructive non-native insect with an appetite for hundreds of different species of trees and shrubs.
The following counties are scheduled to receive aerial treatments: Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Grant, Lafayette, Pepin, Polk, and St. Croix. An interactive map of treatment areas is available at smaerialspray.wi.gov.
Spongy moth program staff will present information regarding treatment plans at three upcoming public open house meetings. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with staff, learn more about spongy moth, and view maps of treatment areas.
The presentations will be:
Platteville: Wednesday, March 19, 4:30-6:30 p.m.; Platteville Public Library, 225 W. Main St., Platteville
Frederic: Tuesday, March 25, 5-7 p.m.; Frederic Village Hall, 110 Oak St. E., Frederic
Durand: Wednesday, March 26, 4-5:45 p.m.; Durand Community Library, 604 Seventh Ave. E., Durand
For more information, visit smaerialspray.wi.gov or spongymoth.wi.gov. Members of the public can also sign up for email updates, call the toll-free hotline at (800) 642-MOTH, or email questions or comments to spongymoth@wisconsin.gov.
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