Campers at Pigeon Lake Provincial Park, situated about an hour southwest of Edmonton, are coping with an inflow of tourists this week.
An enormous variety of forest tent caterpillars have invaded the campground, munching on leaves as they go.
The furry guests are in all places — on picnic tables, in fireplace pits and on the bushes, stripping some branches naked.
“They’re not unhealthy if there’s just a few of them however something in great amount of numbers is a bit eerie,” stated camper Meghan Bodker.
“We’ve been doing our consuming contained in the trailer,” added camper Robin King.
Alberta Parks says, whereas they could be disagreeable to some folks, they’re primarily only a nuisance.
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Alberta Parks instructed World Information that it’s not an infestation, it’s a seasonal visitor experiencing a cyclical growth that occurs each 10-12 years.
They’ve a life cycle of 4 to 6 weeks earlier than they construct cocoons, or tents, and finally grow to be moths.
Alberta Parks says the caterpillars are within the midst of a inhabitants growth that happens each 10 to 12 years.
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The “very hungry caterpillars” are native to Alberta and supply an considerable meals supply for birds and different wildlife.
The campground host at Pigeon Lake stated he’s getting complaints about them, however they’re primarily only a nuisance.
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