Browntail Moth Information

May 16, 2023 Update

The Town has submitted a Request for Applications (RFA) to the Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry for the Browntail Moth Mitigation Assistance Grant. The Grant opened on April 26, 2023, with a due date of May 16, 2023. The Browntail Moth Mitigation Fund was established to provide funding to government entities or nonprofit organizations to assist with reducing impacts from browntail moths. The fund can support activities that use mechanical, cultural, or chemical control methods; education campaigns; and other techniques to reduce browntail moth impacts.

The Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry anticipates making multiple awards as a result of the RFA process. Funding for this program was allocated to the state supplemental budget. Up to $150,000 in total funding is available. The number and size of awards will be determined based on the applications received and according to the best value to the State. Partial funding of proposals may be offered.

If the Town is awarded funding, a plan will be developed to aid in decreasing the browntail moth population.

Additional information regarding browntail moths and steps homeowners can take to decrease the population on their properties is below.

An update will be posted once the grant has been awarded.

On April 19, 2023, the CDC approved the Town's request to declare the browntail moth a public health nuisance in Veazie. A public health nuisance declaration allows a municipality to take actions to address an issue of public health concern affecting the community. Where browntail moths are concerned, a declaration can allow a municipality to conduct aerial spray operations to target browntail moth infestations pursuant to Maine Statute Title 22, §1444. A declaration also provides a municipality with more options for browntail moth treatment that may not have otherwise been available absent the declaration.

Last year, the Maine legislature signed into law, the Browntail Moth Mitigation Fund with up to $150,000 in total funding. Pursuant to 12 M.R.S. § 8321, the Browntail Moth Mitigation Fund was established to provide funding to government entities or nonprofit organizations to assist with reducing impacts from browntail moths. The fund can support activities that use mechanical, cultural, or chemical control methods; education campaigns; and other techniques to reduce browntail moth impacts.

Beginning in 2015, Maine has seen a considerable rise in the population of browntail moth. A chief concern arising from this is the impact of the caterpillars' venomous hairs on human health. Sensitive individuals exposed to the hairs may experience a rash, respiratory issues, or other symptoms. Some serious implications of the rise in browntail populations include but are not limited to, school children being exposed to the toxic hairs on playgrounds and sports fields, lost revenue as travelers begin to avoid vacationing in Maine during peak tourist seasons, and long-lasting tree defoliation and branch dieback in our forests. This fund exists to provide financial support to reduce these impacts.

An aerial survey conducted by the Maine Forest Service shows that Veazie has just over 1,000 acres of damage from browntail moth which is considered significant. We are currently in the process of applying for grant monies from the Mitigation Fund. If awarded, the funds will help the Town target the locations with the most significant population.

According to the Maine Forest Service, BTM populations in Maine have been in an outbreak phase since 2015 and the pest cannot be eradicated. Most areas of Maine, especially settled areas with significant host tree populations such as oak, apple, crabapple, pear, birch, cherry, or other hardwoods, are at risk of infestation by the caterpillars. While long-lasting tree defoliation and branch dieback are major concerns, BTM's microscopic, toxic hairs can cause trouble breathing and skin irritation similar to poison ivy from a few hours up to several weeks.

Winter is the best time to clip and destroy BTM winter webs within reach or hire licensed arborists or pesticide applicators to reduce out-of-reach populations.  The Maine Forest Service campaign "Knock Out Browntail Moth" provides instructions on how to combat the winter nests by following the Four Rs: Recognize, Remove, Recruit, and Reach Out:

Recognize

Learn how to tell if the trees where you live, work, and play have BTM. Their winter webs can look like single leaves hanging onto twigs or fist-sized clumps of leaves tied together tightly with silk. Knowing where the nests are in your yard or town can help inform your management decisions.

Remove

With permission, use hand snips or extendable pole pruners to remove webs within reach from the ground and away from hazards such as powerlines. Protect your eyes and skin from hairs that might be present from past caterpillar activity. After removal, destroy webs by burning them or soaking them in soapy water for several days, then dispose of the nests in the trash.

Recruit

Hire professional help to treat webs out of reach or near hazards on the property you own or manage. Line up help during winter. Licensed Professional Arborists can remove BTM webs in larger trees and shrubs in the winter. In trees where the caterpillars' hairs cause a nuisance and where it is not practical to remove the webs, Licensed Pesticide Applicators may be able to use insecticides during the growing season to manage BTM.

Reach Out

If you find BTM in your neighborhood, let your neighbors and town officials know. The more neighbors, businesses, and others get together to respond to the problem, the better the results.

Additional Information & Resources