GAME COMMISSION ANNOUNCES GYPSY MOTH SPRAYING PLANS
In an effort to protect wildlife habitat, Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced they have scheduled gypsy moth spraying for 22,113 acres of its more than 1.4 million-acre State Game Lands (SGLs) system. Spraying will cover 17 different SGLs in late April to early May, as soon as leaf-out occurs and gypsy moth egg masses hatch. In 2008, the agency contracted to spray 42,731 acres of 38 SGLs.
"Those participating in spring gobbler seasons may encounter helicopters or other aircraft spraying State Game Lands or other forested areas," said William Capouillez, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Habitat Management director. "We want those hunters to rest assured that the spray - Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) - is not harmful to humans, and will impact only gypsy moth caterpillars when they ingest vegetation that has been sprayed."
The Game Commission will pay $554,151.78 out of agency's federal Pittman-Robertson Grant Reimbursement (75 percent) and Game Fund (25 percent) to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which oversees the Statewide Cooperative Spray Program for gypsy moths. Last year, the agency paid DCNR $1,349,993.58 out of agency's Growing Greener II funding for gypsy moth spraying.
For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=176382
