by People in Cape Breton are being asked to join a project to track the spruce budworm.
An outbreak of the bug wreaked havoc on Cape Breton softwood forests in the 1970’s.
Emily Owens is a biologist and program co-ordinator with Forest Protection Ltd.
The group is looking for citizen scientists to set up traps for budworm moths in their backyards or woodlots.
25 trappers were recruited in the province last year but the only Cape Breton trapper is in Sydney.
Owens says they’re looking for people to set up traps in Glace Bay, Louisbourg, Ingonish, Dingwall and Cheticamp.
She adds the citizen scientist simply sets up a trap and checks it once a week.
Moths are a put in a paper bag, frozen and sent back to the study group at the end of the trapping season in September.
She goes on to say people interested in becoming a citizen scientist can contact the group through its website at budwormtracker.ca.