Portions of North Cheyenne Canon Park and Blodgett Peak Open Space will be sprayed for pests in early to mid-June. A severe infestation of Tussock moth and Western Spruce budworm is damaging trees. The spraying project is a cooperative effort with the City, State and the Broadmoor in a joint effort to save the trees. (Participation from the National Forest Service is pending an approval process).
City forestry is hoping that treating the parks with Bt (a naturally occurring soil bacteria) will knock down the pests. Since the decision to spray is weather dependent, the public will get 72 hours notification of the spraying/park closure. The park will only remain closed a few hours. In all, 3400 acres will be sprayed including parts of Cheyenne Mtn State Parks, Pike National Forest and property owned by the Broadmoor.
For more information: www.parks.coloradosprings.gov/tussock.