Gypsy moths being trapped in Valley

For 35 years, the Washington State Department of Agriculture has kept the gypsy moth out of this state.

With the help of nearly 30 seasonal gypsy moth trappers, officials hope that record continues.

This summer, WSDA began its annual gypsy moth summer trapping program, placing more than 23,000 small, tent-shaped cardboard traps throughout the state to identify any new introductions of the destructive pest. Traps are being checked every two to three weeks this summer, and will be taken down in September.

If several moths are trapped over a two-year period, or other gypsy moth evidence is found, an eradication effort in the area may occur the following spring.

Trappers have hung 5,500 traps in King County, the most of any county in the state.

Among the county’s areas of interest is the area northwest of Carnation, near the intersection of Snoqualmie Valley Road Northeast and Ames Lake-Carnation Road Northeast, and between Redmond and Carnation near the intersection of Northeast 64th Street and 224th Avenue Northeast.

Tracy Shirek, trapping coordinator for King County, is confident her trappers will spot any new introductions.

“We’re working hard,” Shirek said. “We want to identify infestations when they’re small and then eradicate them. We want to keep Washington the Evergreen State.”

For more information on Washington’s gypsy moth control program, call the gypsy moth hotline at (800) 443-6684.