Individuals and organized groups that hunt, fish, ride snowmobiles and ATVs, hike, ski, bicycle, canoe, kayak, powerboat, watch wildlife, tent and RV camp, hold camp leases, and others, especially in the northern and Downeast areas of the Maine, may have their activities limited or affected in some way during the next spruce budworm outbreak.
Potential impacts to recreationists and tourists include the appearance of the spruce-fir forest once defoliation begins, large moth flights and heavy larvae infestations which many may find unpleasant, concern and controversy over intervention strategies such as insecticide spraying, changes to wildlife habitat that may affect hunters and wildlife observers, and harvesting operations on public and private lands that may limit recreational access.
Photo by Pam Wells, Oakleafs Studio. Used by permission.
As the outbreak in Maine becomes more apparent, this site will be updated with detailed information on the use of new biological insecticides, plans for aerial application of insecticides and how the recreating public will be protected during these applications, and news about how forest landowners are responding to the outbreak. Information about where the effects of the outbreak are visible, effects on wildlife species of interest, where large moth flights are occurring, and other impacts will also be featured.
Sportsmen and guide organizations such as the Sportsman’s Alliance of Mane, Maine Professional Guides Association, Maine Tourism Association, and the Maine Office of Tourism may also offer useful information to visitors to Maine.