This summer, the Nova Scotia government is proactively treating 1,200 hectares of forest in northwestern Cape Breton to combat the spruce budworm, a moth that poses a significant threat to local woodlands and increases the risk of forest fires. The province plans to apply a biological insecticide known as Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki to target the budworm in its larvae stage, particularly in the Pleasant Bay area of Inverness County. The government aims to implement early treatment to halt population growth and minimize the necessity for subsequent treatments. While the treatment will primarily focus on Crown lands, private landowners in the vicinity can also opt to use the insecticide. Kyle MacQuarrie, ministerial assistant for Natural Resources, highlighted the importance of early action to prevent larger impacts on Nova Scotia's forests in the future. The spruce budworm feeds mainly on balsam fir and various spruce species, leading to severe defoliation during outbreak cycles that occur every 30 to 40 years. The last significant outbreak in Nova Scotia occurred during the 1970s and 1980s, affecting over one million hectares of forest.