Folks in North Battleford will be noticing a lot of creatures feeding off trees in the city in the coming weeks.
The creatures are forest tent caterpillars, and the City has issued a news release alerting the public about the arrival of these insects.
They will be noticeable in those parts of the city where large populations of deciduous trees, particularly green ash, are located.
“The caterpillars are feeding on the leaves of those trees through May and June for five to six weeks and some trees may lose a lot of their leaves,” said Forest Foreman Tim Yeaman. “But unless there are other health concerns with the trees most will recover and produce new growth.”
Unfortunately the City does not apply or offer control options for these creatures, but the caterpillars can be sprayed with a high pressure hose and washed off the tree as a safe means of removal.
Anyone with concerns regarding tent caterpillars in the city can contact City Hall or a local home and garden centre for more information on what to do about them.
