What is the Michigan Cooperative Gypsy Moth Suppression Program?
It is a voluntary program where federal dollars reimburse county cost for conducting the program at the local level.

Suppression Program Objectives:
Protection of tree foliage in wooded residential/recreational areas.
Reduce caterpillar numbers to tolerable levels, reducing annoyance to people.
Provide a control option that limits the use of more toxic application choices.

Program Funding:
Up to half the cost of conducting the program is cost-shared by the Michigan Department of Agriculture using federal dollars.

Grand Traverse County provides the remaining half of the administrative costs, while the townships provide the remaining half of the application fees. Some townships are able to take these funds out of their general funds. Other townships may pass a millage, a special assessment, or may bill the private landowners for half the cost of the spray.

Insecticide used in the Program:
The product used in the aerial application is Bacillus thuringiensis, var. kurstaki, or Btk. It is a naturally occurring bacterium that specifically kills caterpillars that are feeding on leaves at the time of application. The Environmental Protection Agency has deemed that Bt is not considered toxic to birds or mammals and does not harm plants. After more than 20 years of testing and studies, Bt is not considered a threat to human health.

MDA Guidelines for the Program:
More than one dwelling within 1/10th of a mile in rural areas.
One dwelling or more per acre in urban areas.
The susceptible forest (wooded area) must have host trees that are 25 feet high or more. They must cover 50% or more of the ground when viewed from above for rural areas and 25% for urban areas.
A minimum infestation level of 300 gypsy moth egg masses per forested acre in healthy populations.