Destructive Outbreak is Being Monitored in New York State

It is road trip season here in New York State! Have you taken the family on a trip yet this summer? From Buffalo to Albany and into the Adirondack Mountains, there are countless places to explore across the Empire State.

If you’re traveling this summer and paying attention to the trees along the highways and back roads, you may notice something unusual. Large, web-like nests are appearing in trees across New York State, and they’re a sign of an active insect outbreak.

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Tent Caterpillars Are Back Across New York State

As we enter a new month, a heat wave has settled over much of New York State. During the hottest part of the afternoon, parks and neighborhoods become noticeably quiet as many families stay indoors to enjoy the comfort of air conditioning.

While many people are escaping the heat, there is still plenty happening in New York’s forests. Staff from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are busy monitoring several issues affecting the state’s woodlands, including an increase in tent caterpillar activity.

Read More: The New York State Outdoor Burn Ban Explained for Summer

Recently, the DEC warned residents about tent caterpillars, an insect that can strip leaves from trees during outbreak years. Their populations naturally rise and fall in cycles, and this year appears to be one of the more active seasons.

What Those Giant Webs In The Trees Really Are

It wasn’t long ago that we were driving through the Adirondack Mountains, and I couldn’t help but notice how many of these large tents were hanging from trees along the highways. At first glance, they almost look like oversized spider webs or giant bird nests.

In reality, they’re created by colonies of hungry tent caterpillars. According to the DEC, these caterpillars are currently causing widespread defoliation in parts of New York State as they feed on tree leaves.

"This spring, forest tent caterpillars (FTC) have been defoliating trees in areas of the southern Catskills and Central New York. DEC is monitoring the outbreak to determine the extent of the damage".

While healthy trees often recover after a single season of defoliation, forestry officials continue to monitor outbreaks to determine whether additional damage could occur.

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Exploring New York’s Forests Is Still Worth The Trip

Our family loves spending time outdoors. Whether it’s hunting, fishing, hiking, or simply exploring some of New York’s incredible forests, it’s one of our favorite ways to spend time together.

When I was growing up, my parents took us to a local park nearly every Friday afternoon during the summer. We’d spend hours running through the fields, wading in streams, and trying to catch crayfish and minnows. Looking back, that’s probably where my love for the outdoors first began.

My mother grew up in Saranac Lake, so our family spent every summer in the Adirondack Mountains. There has always been something special about the fresh mountain air and the towering forests. Thankfully, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is keeping a close eye on the health of those forests as another busy summer season unfolds.