The eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) is the most damaging defoliating insect of Maine's spruce-fir forests. Drag the year slider or press Play to watch projected risk shift by town, filter risk levels, switch basemaps, and click any town or 🌲 red-spruce hotspot for details.
REGIONAL RISK
Moderate-High
current season
TOWNS AT HIGH RISK
-
for selected year
RED SPRUCE HOTSPOTS
5
priority stands
5-YEAR TREND
Rising
since 2022
Budworm risk by town
Interactive risk map. Use the panel to change year, filter levels, and toggle hotspots.
2027-2030 outlook
Model-based projection (demonstration)
Northern Aroostook towns projected to stay High as the outbreak front advances south.
Several central towns expected to reach High risk by 2029 under current trends.
Red spruce and balsam fir above ~600 m flagged for top-kill risk and priority sampling.
Modeled regional defoliation rising steadily (see projected trend).
Projected defoliation
Mean defoliation (%), observed then projected.
Host species at risk
Balsam firRed spruceWhite spruceBlack spruce
Outlook and recommended actions
Continue annual overwintering larval (L2) sampling at high- and moderate-risk towns ahead of the spring feeding period.
Prioritize repeat LiDAR and canopy-change analysis in fir-dominated stands most vulnerable to top-kill.
Flag towns with consecutive years of rising defoliation for ground verification.
Favor thinning that reduces fir dominance and increases diversity to lower outbreak susceptibility.
Drought stresses Maine forests through reduced growth, crown dieback, and greater vulnerability to pests. Drag the year slider or press Play to watch projected severity shift by town, filter levels, switch basemaps, and click any town or 💧 drought-stress hotspot for details.
REGIONAL CONDITION
Moderate
current season
SEVERE-DROUGHT TOWNS
-
for selected year
DROUGHT-STRESS HOTSPOTS
4
sensitive stands
SEASONAL OUTLOOK
Drying
below-normal rain
Drought severity by town
Interactive severity map. Use the panel to change year, filter levels, and toggle hotspots.
2027-2030 outlook
Model-based projection (demonstration)
Southern and coastal towns projected to stay moderate-severe through late summer.
Sandy outwash and shallow-till stands flagged for elevated moisture stress.
Below-normal precipitation expected; drought footprint likely to expand northward.
Modeled drought index trending upward (see projected trend).