MARINETTE COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – Marinette County is one of four Wisconsin counties chosen as a treatment area for the Wisconsin DNR’s 2024 Spongy Moth Suppression Program with aerial spray plans scheduled for this summer.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the six identified treatment sites contain high-value trees at DNR properties in Columbia, Marinette, Sauk, and Walworth counties.
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Officials say a total of 928 acres will be treated with an aerial spray of Foray, a bacterial insecticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki. Maps for the six selected treatment areas can be found here.
The aerial spraying will occur between early May and early June, with exact dates and times depending on caterpillar development and weather conditions. Officials say they plan to avoid spraying during the extended Memorial Day weekend if spraying has not yet happened.
The specific sites and areas to be sprayed are:
- Columbia County:
- 101 acres at MacKenzie Center
- Marinette County:
- 255 acres at Governor Earl Peshtigo River State Forest
- Sauk County:
- 212 acres at Devil’s Lake State Park; 187 acres at Mirror Lake State Park
- Walworth County:
- 124 acres at Big Foot Beach State Park and 49 acres at Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit
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Wisconsin’s first known spongy moth egg hatch was reported on the morning of April 17. Spongy moth outbreaks occur every five to 10 years, officials say. However, in 2023 Wisconsin saw a record amount of spongy moth defoliation, affecting roughly 375,000 acres.
The DNR’s release states that law enforcement, local governments, schools, and nearby medical facilities will be notified before spraying.
Updates and additional information on the 2024 Spongy Moth Suppression Program can be found here.
