REGINA — Thousands of trees in Regina will be sprayed in the coming months to protect them from the cankerworm.
On Monday, the city began its annual spray program for the insect in areas with high insect counts and where trees are most at risk.
“We’re targeting areas where cankerworm numbers are highest so we can reduce damage and keep our trees in good shape,” explained Russell Eirich, City of Regina director of parks and open space service, in a press release.
Cankerworms damage trees by feeding on young leaves, leading to substantial defoliation that can weaken trees and, in severe cases, cause them to die over time.
To combat this, Regina will spray over 4,000 trees in 2026, utilizing Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (BTK), which effectively kills cankerworms.
Approved by Health Canada, the spray is harmless to humans, pets and wildlife.
As spraying has begun, the city will advise residents near the spraying area 48 hours in advance via a hand-delivered notification.
On the notice, residents will see several tips to prepare for spraying, including:
- Keeping family members and pets away from spray crews.
- Closing windows and doors.
- Moving cars off the street, if possible.
More information on the program can be found here.
