B.C. government to spray for gypsy moths over Fraser Heights
Pesticide spraying planned for early morning hours on four days in April, June
The B.C. government is stepping up its attack on a potentially dangerous pest living in a corner of Surrey, which it worries could wipe out orchards, farms and trees in the province if left untreated.
The gypsy moth has stubbornly remained in the northwest corner of the Fraser Heights neighbourhood in Surrey, despite the hand application of pesticide at ground level over the past two years.
A single gypsy moth in its voracious caterpillar stage can chew through 1,000 sq. cm of foliage a day, the equivalent of 15 oak leaves, according to the forests ministry.
The ministry has applied for a permit from the Environment Ministry to aerial spray 62 hectares of residential and municipal park land next to Highway 1, near the Port Mann Bridge.
The gypsy moth when found in B.C. is usually controlled through trapping, and small populations die out on their own, said Tim Ebata, a provincial forest health officer.
But in this area, “they are persistent. There have been positive trap catches for many years in a row. The trap catches indicate (the population) is growing,” he said.
The traps would have “multiple” catches, up to eight per trap, when normally the traps would find only one, said
Ebata.
“The aerial spraying provides better coverage,” he said. “(The area) has a very thick canopy and the spray should provide enough droplet penetration. Hopefully, it will work.”
He said a similar attack on the moth in Saanich with similar conditions did remove it.
The spraying is scheduled for early morning hours for four days in April and June.
“If (residents in the area) stayed in bed a little longer that day, they’re probably not going to know that they’ve been sprayed,” said Ebata.
There is no evidence of harmful effects in persons and children with asthma or with weakened immune systems, according to the province.
Residents should close windows if they want to avoid contact with the spray and wait for about an hour after spraying before going outdoors. An information session was held on Jan. 15 at a school in the area and 15 people attended, with one resident raising some concerns “that weren’t really valid,” said Ebata.
Any opposed to the spraying had until Jan. 11 to provide comment to the Environment Ministry. Once the permit is issued, opponents with grounds can appeal through the ministry.
Tessa Nendick, who lives at the Dogwood Campgrounds and RV Park that is within the area with her fiancé and their two-month-old son, said as a new mom, she is concerned.
“I’m not crazy about certain things being sprayed,” she said. But, “You have to ask yourself, ‘Do the moths cause more problems than the pesticide?’ If so, it needs to be done. If there is a good remedy to get rid of them, it should be used,” she said.
She said she will likely not remain at the RV park on the spray dates because “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Neither the Surrey mayor nor the Fraser Health Authority had concerns about residents’ health during the spraying.
“We have not received any complaints or concerns regarding upcoming gypsy moth aerial spraying,” said Tasleem Juma at Fraser Health.