Spruce budworm citizen science project seeks volunteers

The Budworm Tracker program, a component of the Healthy Forest Partnership, is expanding and looking for volunteers to join its Budworm Tracker citizen science program in Northern Maine.

The Budworm Tracker Program is part of a large scientific initiative aimed at better understanding how spruce budworm populations rise and spread. Spruce budworm is one of the most damaging native insects affecting balsam fir and spruce trees in Canada and northern Maine. Outbreaks, such as the one currently in Québec, Canada, often result in widespread tree growth loss and death with effects that can last for decades.

“The Budworm Tracker team wants to engage interested citizens to help us conduct research and monitor spruce budworm populations in their own backyards and woodlots,” said Program Coordinator Emily Owens. "Our team is trying to better understand the extent that migrating moths coming from an outbreak, such as the current on in Québec, might play a roll in the rise and spread of spruce budworm.” 

The program was launched in 2015 to help scientists increase their understanding of the spruce budworm by having citizens assist with the collecting and sharing of scientific data. 

In Eastern Canada, several hundred volunteers have signed up for the 2016 season in and the program is looking to add 30-40 volunteers in northern Maine. These volunteers range from families who are interested in science and forestry, to industry and forestry stakeholders. As citizen scientists, they are asked to trap and collect spruce budworm moths at least once per week during the flight season, between June and August, and send the data back to the research team. The traps are supplied for free and come with simple instructions. A short video also describes the program.

In ME, the research team is particularly interested in recruiting volunteers in locations as southern as Bangor and as northern as the border with Québec and New Brunswick. 

Individuals working or living in these areas who are interested in becoming a citizen scientist can visit MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "links.govdelivery.comtrack" claiming to be www.budwormtracker.ca or call:

Emily Owens, Biologist
Program Coordinator
Forest Protection Limited
Fredericton, New Brunswick
(506) 452-3507