Travelling to Minnesota? Check for gypsy moth 'hitchhikers'

Minnesota state officials are consideringnew regulations for residents, industry and tourists to slow the spread of an invasive species known as the gypsy moth.

The department of agriculture is proposing a quarantine zone for the gypsy moth, including Cook County just south of Thunder Bay.

The quarantine would mandate inspections for egg masses on everything from timber to RVs to camping equipment leaving the area.

We know that these are hitchhikers, said Lucia Hunt, Gypsy Moth Program supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Those females will lay their eggs on pretty much any solid surface and humans are very good at spreading gypsymoth and other invasive species.

Hunt said the moth can do a lot of damage to urban and natural deciduous forests, as the caterpillar form of the insect eats the leaves offdeciduous trees.

They are pretty destructive [and], being an invasive species, they don't have a compliment of predators that naturally keeps them in check.

Hunt said record numbers have turned up along the western Lake Superior shoreline.

She said people can look for the insect by inspecting their camping gear, RVs, and picnic tables that could be carrying egg masses.

Make sure you're not carrying any unwanted hitchhikers back home with you or along further on your vacation, Hunt said.

Public hearings on the idea are set for next month. Hunt said the department hopes to have the quarantine in effect by the end of March, when it will be part of agricultural law.

"We do have the authority to impose penalties and fines against people who violate these rules, Hunt said.

We are expecting, for the most part, to have very good compliance amongst our industry partners and, as far as the tourism goes, we're really hoping that [tourists] really take responsibility for their ... aesthetic enjoyment of the outdoors and work with us."

A spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources told CBC News that as yet there have been no sightings of egg masses in northwestern Ontario, but some individual gypsy moths have been spotted in the region. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is monitoring for the presence of the pest.