Dauphin County is participating with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) in the 2019 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program to protect the area from defoliation.
In an effort to prevent a large gypsy moth outbreak, the Dauphin County Commissioners and the county's Conservation District are offering the program again next year, a press release says.
Chris Hooper with the Dauphin County Conservation District will coordinate the suppression program for Dauphin County. Procedures for the landowners to follow to request spraying of their properties next spring are already in place if aerial spraying should be needed.
Landowners who wish to have their property surveyed for gypsy moth should contact the Dauphin County Conservation District at 717.921.8100 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Requests for spraying must be completed by Aug. 24, because field investigations must be conducted during September and October. For this reason, landowners requesting spraying should
remove or destroy egg masses before Dec. 1.
If submitting a request for gypsy moth aerial spraying, please have the following information available: your name, address, phone number, municipality, acreage, and tax parcel numbers of the properties that you would like to have sprayed.
Submitting a request for gypsy moth aerial spraying is not a guarantee that spraying will be conducted on the requested property. DCNR and Dauphin County have developed a set of guidelines that must be met before any area is sprayed. Only forested residential or special use areas can be sprayed.
A public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. July 30 at the Dauphin County Agricultural and Natural Resources Center to discuss the proposed 2019 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program. If you are a person with a disability and you wish to attend the public meeting and you require an auxiliary aid, service, or other accommodation to participate in the proceedings, please contact Eric Naguski directly at 717.921.8100 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1.800.654.5984 to discuss how Dauphin County may accommodate your needs.
A free informational brochure about the Dauphin County Gypsy Moth Suppression Program is available by calling the Dauphin County Conservation District. Landowners with questions about the gypsy moth or the program may call the Dauphin County Conservation District at 921.8100.