'It's raining poop': Gypsy moth caterpillars infest largest forest left in southwestern Ontario
Gypsy moths are covering tens of thousands of trees in what is arguably the largest forested area west of London, Ont.
The 500 hectare (1,235 acre) Mosa / Skunk's Misery forest has been hit by a gypsy moth infestation for the second year in a row.
“It is a Carolinian forest that has endangered species of floral and wildlife,” states Ann Stalker, whose home is across from the impacted forest.
Stalker says the moths, which literally cover most of the trees on her own property, are “gross” and raining feces all over her property.
“It’s not raindrops. It’s gypsy moth caterpillar poop.”
CTV News London went inside the forest at numerous spots and caught the gypsy moths at their caterpillar stage on every single tree visited.
In some cases, the trees, especially maple and oak, are covered at the base.
Many others are stripped of leaves by the hungry caterpillars.
And therein lies the first concern.
Ann Stalker stands by a tree on her property impacted by the gypsy moth caterpillars in Southwest Middlesex, Ont., Friday, June 18, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
Ann Stalker stands by a tree on her property impacted by the gypsy moth caterpillars in Southwest Middlesex, Ont., Friday, June 18, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
Stalker fears many trees will not recover from being a buffet for bugs.
Donald Craig, a registered professional forester, sympathies with Stalker.
Just emerging from the forest for an interview he found the caterpillars had found a home on his truck.
“There’s probably some crawling around in my clothes,” he half-jokes.
Donald Craig, a registered professional forester, speaks in Southwest Middlesex, Ont. on Friday, June 18, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
Donald Craig, a registered professional forester, speaks in Southwest Middlesex, Ont. on Friday, June 18, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
While Craig agrees the infection is severe, he’s not convinced it won’t correct itself.
“As population increases, so do the parasite and disease issues, and it may collapse on its own. And we may have a better indication by the middle or end of August.”
It’s already too late to spray for this summer, but Stalker and her supporters want assurances the bugs will be bumped by an aerial spray next year.
She has the support of Southwest Middlesex council. It’s asked the county to prepare for a 2022 assault on the moths.
Deputy Mayor Marigay Wilkins says the $200,000 cost to spray the forest is far less than the impact of losing it. And she maintains, its disappearance is a real possibility.
“It’s an area I would hate to see lost. The old saying is you’ll never miss it 'til it's gone, and I really hope that doesn’t happen.”
Just a few trees, of hundreds stripped bare of leaves by the gypsy moth caterpillar, are seen in Southwest Middlesex, Ont., Friday, June 18, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
Just a few trees, of hundreds stripped bare of leaves by the gypsy moth caterpillar, are seen in Southwest Middlesex, Ont., Friday, June 18, 2021. (Sean Irvine / CTV News)
Stalker naturally echoes the concern as she points to a few studies about potential human health reactions to the caterpillars. Several have shown it can cause rashes, similar to poison ivy.
Stalker contends both she and her husband have suffered from them.
Stalker and Wilkins are hopeful Middlesex County council will approve the 2022 spray plan at its July 13 meeting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.