Public comment requested for spongy moth aerial treatment plans in local counties

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is accepting public comment on its planned 2025 spongy moth aerial treatment plans. Treatment plan maps, spray information, fact sheets, and other resources can be found at smaerialspray.wi.gov. Beginning in May and continuing through July, the department plans to treat selected areas using low-flying planes. A total of approximately 69,065 acres at 27 sites in eight counties are scheduled for treatment. These areas have been identified as having increasing populations of spongy moth, a destructive non-native insect with an appetite for hundreds of different species of trees and shrubs. Grant and Lafayette are two of the counties scheduled for spraying. Spongy moth program staff will present information regarding treatment plans at three upcoming public open house meetings, including one at the Platteville Public Library on Wednesday, March 19, 4:30-6:30 p.m.