Waterville Declares Public Heath Emergency on Browntail Moth Caterpillars
The browntail moth caterpillar is a little troublemaker. I must not have encountered it yet, or I don't react, but they are everywhere this year. So much so, the city of Waterville, late last week, declared a public health emergency due to the citywide infestation.
In the emergency meeting, the Waterville City Council declared a public health emergency. The city council also gave the city manager the funding to help address the situation with information to residents and find the right company to directly help deal with the caterpillars.
In case you have not heard about the browntail moth caterpillar…they are a pesky bugger. The caterpillars shed hairs that are poisonous and can cause a rash that is like poison ivy.
The City of Waterville is also asking the CDC to declare a public health nuisance…that would allow Waterville more freedom in spending funds to try and address the issue. According to centralmaine.com, there are really four options to deal with the browntail moth caterpillar: cutting the nests out of trees, spraying the foliage, injecting liquid into trees, but that kills moths and other insects, or just cutting trees down.
The story at centralmaine.com also had some suggestions on dealing with the rash...including the use of duct tape. You have to check that out.
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