Two upcoming April events address spruce budworm and wildfire safety ahead of summer

As summer nears, local organizations, county officials, and media outlets are hosting educational meetings, webinars, and community conversations about spruce budworm and the outlook for the upcoming wildfire season.

The prevalence of spruce budworm across northeastern Minnesota, particularly in the Superior National Forest, is increasing. 

Efforts are ongoing in northeastern Minnesota to monitor, manage, and mitigate the impact of the spruce budworm, a native insect that feeds on the needles of spruce and balsam fir. 

With the increased spread of the native spruce budworm, paired with ongoing drought conditions, many officials with the U.S. Forest Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Cook County Commissioners, and officials with local organizations have collaborated to provide educational and informational opportunities about spruce budworm and wildfire safety tips for the public.

There are two upcoming opportunities in Apr. for the public to learn more. The two events are as follows:

Cook County Higher Education hosts Spruce Budworm in Minnesota’s Forests: 2024 Update Webinar

The webinar will take place on Apr. 15 from 11 to 12:30 p.m. at Cook County Higher Education or via Zoom.

The University of Minnesota Extension Educators, the U.S. Forest Service, and the North Shore Forest Collaborative are the presenters for the spruce budworm webinar. Participants will learn about the identification, biology, and management of budworms in the Superior and Chippewa National Forests in northeastern Minnesota.

The webinar will feature the latest information on the current spruce budworm outbreak and its impacts on the public and private forest lands for 2024 and the future. The presenters will share information about local programs and resources available during spruce budworm management, such as tree planting and fencing programs.

Register for the free webinar here.

Upcoming Meeting About Wildfire Safety in Hovland

On the morning of Saturday, Apr. 27, from 9:30-11 a.m., members of the Hovland area will have an opportunity to learn and prepare for the upcoming wildlife season.

Cook County Commissioner Deb White will host the meeting at the Hovland Town Hall. Several presenters will participate in the event.

Aaron Mollin-Kling, the Cook and Lake County Firewise coordinator, will have materials available to show homeowners how to protect their homes and property, particularly given the spruce budworm infestation in Cook County.

Following Mollin-Kling’s presentation, Cook County Commissioner Ann Sullivan will distribute ‘Go Bags’ and provide suggestions for what goes in those bags in preparation for evacuation necessary due to fire or some other event. Attendees will be instructed about how to update the wildlife sprinkler information collected by the county and given information about methods to evacuate property during a wildfire.

Members of the Hovland Fire Department will attend the event and speak about the various stages preceding an evacuation so homeowners know what to expect and how to prepare.

This is the first of many meetings the county will hold to prepare Cook County full-time and seasonal residents for the upcoming wildfire season.

On Mar. 21, WTIP hosted a special hour-long outdoor program about spruce budworm. Listen to the audio below.

Kalli Hawkins April 10, 2024