The City’s Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department this week will use an organic treatment on trees in Deering Oaks Park that are infested with browntail moth caterpillars.
A tree survey conducted in conjunction with the Maine Forest Service found that 313 trees out of 316 surveyed, 313 had browntail moth nests on them. Three oaks recorded over 1,000 nests each, two oaks had between 500 and 1,000 nests, 23 oaks had between 100 and 500 nests and 285 oaks had between one to 100 nests in them.
During the time of treatment and for four hours following application, the city will close the park to all guests. Police and park rangers will be on hand and proper signs will be placed by entrances during periods of closure.
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