Browntail moth caterpillar population in Maine has decreased, but some areas still see high numbers

The browntail moth caterpillar population in Maine is down from its peak, but some areas are still seeing high numbers. Allison Kanoti, the director of forest health and monitoring with the Maine Forest Service, said the population has declined in Androscoggin County, but grown in Penobscot, Knox, Waldo, and Hancock Counties, and in the area around Casco Bay. The population peaked two years ago, when the state recorded 250,000 acres of defoliation. Last year it dropped to 47,000 acres, but the true number was likely higher because aerial surveys were hampered by rain. Hairs from the browntail moth caterpillar are toxic to humans and can cause sever skin rash and breathing difficulties.