Carbon County is considering participating in the 2015 Gypsy Moth Spray program with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry Division of Forest Pest Management.

Residential properties with only scattered ornamental trees and shrubs or any property with trees that are readily accessible to ground spray equipment do not qualify for this program. Areas that have very small egg masses, regardless of the number, often do not qualify for the program because the gypsy moth population will most likely succumb to natural mortality agents shortly after they emerge in the spring.In order to be eligible for the program, the treatment area must have at least 23 acres of forested residential property. Any proposed treatment area must also have at least 250 healthy egg masses per acre.Current season egg masses should not be removed until field evaluations have been completed. Neighboring residential properties where all the landowners desire treatment will be combined into a single spray block whenever possible.Cost sharing for this program will be dependent on how much state funding is made available. Landowners desiring treatment may be responsible for the cost sharing of their property.Any property owners who meet the above criteria and want to request to have their property considered for inclusion in the 2015 program should contact David Horvath, county gypsy moth coordinator, at the Mauch Chunk Lake Park office at 570-325-3669, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.All requests for treatment must be received by Aug. 30.