Oregon Dept. of Agriculture warns of possible spotted lanternfly sighting in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. () – The Oregon Department of Agriculture is warning about an unconfirmed sighting of a spotted lanternfly in a Portland residential park – posing ecological and economic threats to the state.
In a Thursday press release, the department said it was made aware of an online report from — a platform where community members can share observations from the outdoors — with an image of a spotted lanternfly at Colonel Summers Park on May 12.
That week, ODA and the United States Department of Agriculture conducted visual surveys of the park and surrounding neighborhood to find signs of the insect, set monitoring traps and conduct outreach with neighbors.
Esquire names 2 new Oregon hotels among the best in the world
But after two surveys, ODA said there were no signs of the spotted lanternfly, leaving the iNaturalist report unconfirmed.
The state and federal agencies will continue conducting surveys and trap the area in the coming weeks, officials said, noting until ODA collects a 'physical specimen,' and has confirmed the sighting, the spotted lantern is not considered to be present in the state.
While ODA has not documented any living spotted lanternfly populations in Oregon, staffers in the agency have 'intercepted multiple dead adult SLF and a live egg mass on incoming equipment from outside Oregon in recent years,' ODA said.
Longstanding summer festival will return to North Portland after 1-year hiatus
'These interceptions highlight the risk of introducing SLF into Oregon, as rail cars, trucks, other cargo, and even personal vehicles move from infested states to the West, where SLF is not known to occur,' ODA explained.
According to the agency, SLF pose an ecological and economic threat to the state because the insect attacks a variety of plant species and are known to impact the grapevine and nursery industries.
ODA explained the lanternfly is known to exist in 18 states in the mid-west and eastern parts of the United States.
The agency asks residents to report potential sightings to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Officials wage 10-year battle against invasive hogs that have caused millions in damage: 'Nearly 4,500 caught'
A nearly 10-year-old campaign in Arkansas has made significant strides in managing one of the state's most destructive invasive species: feral hogs. These animals have threatened native wildlife and caused millions of dollars in property damage, as Little Rock station KATV reported in mid-May. But thanks to a statewide strategy and strong partnerships, residents are finally seeing promising results. It was a legislative effort that kickstarted the Feral Hog Eradication Task Force in 2017, bringing together more than a dozen federal, state, and nonprofit agencies to tackle the challenge. With funding from the United States Department of Agriculture's Feral Swine Control Project, the group rolled out a plan that included full-time trappers, aerial support, and smarter trapping techniques, according to the local outlet. By 2024, those tactics had paid off to the tune of over 13,000 hog removals, "with nearly 4,500 caught using conservation district resources." One landowner in Yell County told KATV he noticed a big drop in hog sightings after switching to group trapping, a method that targets entire herds rather than individuals to stop the cycle of repopulation. In addition to millions in property damage, the task force has said the animals can cause crop loss; injury and disease transmission to livestock; threats to smaller and endangered species; and potential contamination of human food and water sources. The Wildlife Services division of the USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service now serves as the go-to contact for anyone needing help with feral hogs on private property, making it easier than ever to report and remove the animals. The University of Arkansas-Fayetteville is also testing a potential boar sterilant, per KATV, and the task force is looking into targeted bait solutions to expand its toolkit. It's possible that Arkansas is building a model for other states to follow. The regional feral hog problem has provided a clear example of how invasive animal species can wreak havoc on both ecosystems and everyday lives, just as invasive plants can crowd out native varieties. The state of Arkansas coordinated resources to tackle this challenge head-on, and homeowners everywhere can implement similar strategies. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Swapping out even part of a traditional yard for a natural lawn can make a big impact. Options like native plants, clover, buffalo grass, or xeriscaping offer beautiful, eco-friendly, low-cost, and low-maintenance alternatives — since native plants are already well-suited to their surroundings, they typically require less water and maintenance. Rewilded spaces can also offer a healthier ecosystem for pollinators. And those tiny workers are key to protecting the soil systems and food supplies that landowners and all citizens of Planet Earth rely on. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Yahoo
Illinois Department of Agriculture lifts poultry exhibition suspension
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is lifting the temporary suspension on the exhibition or sale of poultry at swap meets, exhibitions, flea markets and auction markets. The suspension was initially issued in February in response to the ongoing threat of H5N1 avian flu. 'We have closely monitored the threat posed by avian flu and have taken appropriate measures to ensure biosecurity for the safety of both the public and the poultry industry,' said Dr. Mark Ernst, IDOA State Veterinarian. 'Should the situation change, we will re-evaluate, but for now, we feel it is safe to resume poultry exhibition and sales.' Avian flu is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl). Avian flu virus strains are extremely infectious, often fatal to chickens, and can spread rapidly from flock to flock. Poultry flock owners, managers, and veterinarians should report any unusual findings in domestic poultry, such as increase in mortality, decrease in water consumption, decrease in egg production, or respiratory signs, including coughing and sneezing, immediately to IDOA at 217-782-4944 or the United States Department of Agriculture at 866-536-7593. The public is reminded not to handle or attempt to capture wild waterfowl or other birds displaying signs of illness. Due to risk of infection to other animals, cats should be kept away from the carcasses of birds that may have died from avian flu. For more information regarding avian flu, visit the USDA site at
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Yahoo
FAA extending program allowing Boeing to perform tasks on agency's behalf
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Thursday it would renew a program that allows Boeing to perform tasks on behalf of the agency for three years. Boeing's Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) will become effective on June 1. 'Before making the decision, the FAA closely monitored specific criteria and saw improvements in most areas. Criteria included implementing policies prohibiting interference with ODA unit members; assessing the ODA unit's ability to effectively self-audit and ensure follow-through of post-audit activities; and monitoring the ODA unit's ability to complete projects independently,' the FAA said in a statement announcing the agreement. 'The FAA will continue to closely monitor Boeing's performance throughout its renewal period,' it added. The move follows months of scrutiny due to concerns about the aviation manufacturer's safety standards after a midair accident took place on a Boeing 737 Max 9 last year. A door on an Alaska Airlines flight flew open, and a later investigation revealed the incident was caused by the absence of four missing bolts. Since then, whistleblowers have stepped forward alleging the company prioritized speed over quality in production stages. The FAA said it would continue 'aggressive oversight' of Boeing under the renewed program and opted to extend ODA for three years instead of the proposed five-year agreement. 'We remain committed to working under the agency's detailed and rigorous oversight,' a Boeing spokesperson said in a statement. 'We have taken purposeful steps to strengthen our ODA program over the past three years in alignment with FAA requirements, and we will continue those improvements.' In May, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dropped its case against Boeing after the company agreed to a deal to resolve two 737 Max plane crashes in 2018 and 2019, respectively, killing 346 people. Under the terms, Boeing would pay or invest more than $1.1 billion, including an additional $445 million for the crash victims' families. However, senators say the company should be held to a higher standard. 'Whistleblowers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have indicated that a dysfunctional safety culture persists at the company, even as Boeing executives evade blame for the company's failures while pocketing millions in pay and bonuses,' Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi before the deal was complete. They said 'manufacturing errors and defects in Boeing aircraft are not one-offs.' Despite criticism of the company's culture and handling of the fatal crashes, DOJ officials have lauded their deal with Boeing. 'Ultimately, in applying the facts, the law, and Department policy, we are confident that this resolution is the most just outcome with practical benefits,' a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement to The Associated Press. 'Nothing will diminish the victims' losses, but this resolution holds Boeing financially accountable, provides finality and compensation for the families and makes an impact for the safety of future air travelers.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.