This is in response to Catherine Gensure’s letter of Sept. 1.

Spraying is not the answer for tentworm caterpillars, which can only be eradicated by cutting and burning affected vegetation. It is up to private landowners and to county, town and other road crews to address this problem at every opportunity.

If need be, the Legislature should pass laws mandating direct action to protect our rural environments from future spread. If this had been addressed when infestations were small, we would not be seeing the kind of damage we are now witnessing.

It would be easy to turn to spraying to fix every natural problem, but at what price? More chemicals in the environment to damage vegetation, humans and wildlife? Mutant pest species adapting to stronger and stronger doses?

Please, let’s not be short-sighted and look for quick fixes for every problem.

Pat Malcolm, Lisbon


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