Community Meeting on Browntail Moths

Managing a Health Risk on Deer Isle

 

Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 4:00 – 5:30 pm

(early enough so you won’t miss dinner with your sweetie)

Deer Isle Town Office: 70 Church St, Deer Isle

Show your love for Deer Isle! Join us for a community meeting on the browntail moth and learn how you can help protect our island (and yourself) from this invasive forest pest. State Entomologist Thomas Schmeelk will present on the browntail moth’s biology, human health impacts, and what community members can do to mitigate human health risks on their own property.

 

Browntail moths are an invasive forest pest that is currently impacting a large portion of our state. Contact with the caterpillar’s hairs can cause a severe rash and respiratory problems. Defoliation by browntail moth caterpillars also poses a threat to the health of the hardwood trees and shrubs they feed on. Learn more about browntail moths in Maine at: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/forest_health/documents/browntail_moth_brochure.pdf

 

Thomas Schmeelk is a Forest Entomologist with the Maine Forest Service. He has presented widely on the browntail moth in communities throughout Maine.

 

Valentine’s Day treats will be provided and the meeting will be over in time for you to keep any special Valentine’s Day evening plans you may have!

 

For more information, contact Paul Miller, Executive Director at Island Heritage Trust at pmiller@islandheritagetrust.org or Jim Fisher, Deer Isle Town Manager at deerislemanager@gmail.com