THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT

GYPSY MOTH INFORMATION

There is a lot of info on the internet and social media being shared right now about the gypsy moth infestation in Barrie. Too little too late as many had no idea what the lifecycle was like, what to look for and how to be proactive. If you have yet to see them around your home, count yourself lucky, however, this could repeat itself next year so, please read and help us move forward with this.

According to the Simcoe County website, an outbreak was observed in parts of Simcoe County in 2019 and particularly severe and widespread defoliation was evident in 2020. However, it is anticipated that some areas will see moderate to severe defoliation in 2021. This area will spread to be larger and larger each year. Gypsy Moths are an Invasive Species.

In the matter of days to weeks every green leaf on the trees in our yards and surrounding forests has the potential to be gone, leaving the trees bare. The research says that in subsequent infestation years this can, and likely will, be detrimental to the trees (this is year three).

Not only are these caterpillars attacking our trees, but they are causing severe reactions, rashes and can even cause respiratory reactions if their tiny hairs are breathed in on a windy day. Many people are facing rashes and severe reactions to contact with them, as well as respiratory reactions when the tiny hairs that can float through the wind are inhaled, which is unfortunately unavoidable unless we hide in our homes.

We have seen thousands of them on our playgrounds in our parks, front porch areas, backyards, lawn furniture, trampolines, etc. For the kids that are severely allergic to a lot of things and already have skin conditions, they are even more susceptible to a reaction to these Gypsy Moth Caterpillars. Sure, we can try to spray them with soapy water, but the sheer amount of them is uncontrollable at this point. The sheer magnitude of this infestation hasn’t been affected no matter how many times I spray them with soapy water. I have spent hours and days looking for nests on my property to no avail, but there are thousands of these little menaces everywhere.

This is not simply a problem that lasts a couple of days. It will be approximately two months of being covered with caterpillars and then moths. It is also not sanitary, as in a couple weeks their feces will be dropping. It will be all over the driveway, children’s play equipment, all over the yard, etc.

The information that the Municipalities and Ministry are sharing regarding the action homeowners can take is not feasible. We can tape our own trees (as the City of Barrie has wrongly suggested as it is dangerous to birds. DO NOT TAPE YOUR TREES THE WAY THEY SHOWED) and spray our own areas with soap and water, but that does not control the issues taking place at our neighbors houses, in the parks, forest and more. They just come back, and in DROVES. At this point the caterpillars are about 4-10 mm in length, but in a couple weeks they will be approximately 5 cm.

We need everyone’s help to get the information out there!

Please:
✅Share this post: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10165069522385527&id=525065526
✅Contact your mayor and local council for severe infestation.
✅Call the Ministry of Natural Resources
✅Learn more: https://www.simcoe.ca/gypsymoth
✅Inform yourself about what Barrie suggests: https://www.barrie.ca/Living/Environment/Urban-Forestry/Pages/Pest-Preparedness.aspx
✅ Report Gypsy Moth Caterpillar sighting on your property: https://www.eddmaps.org/ontario/

Barrie City Councillors - https://www.barrie.ca/City%20Hall/MayorCouncil/Pages/default.aspx

Barrie Mayor, Jeff Lehman – officeofthemayor@barrie.ca

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – 1-800-667-1940 or NRISC@ontario.ca

*This post has been edited to be an informative post. It has been made clear by Jeff Leman, the MNR and the City of Barrie that nothing more in terms of spraying will be done at this time. The petition has been closed.