Gomers

MORE BAD BUGS: Last year, it was the dreaded emerald ash borer being discovered in Iowa, putting our many ash trees at risk. Now, the gypsy moth population is skyrocketing in Iowa, threatening many types of trees but with a preference for oak - our state tree. At least there's a relatively affordable and often effective treatment for gypsy moths: pheromone flakes that prevent the male moth from finding a female during the mating season. Northeast Iowa will be the target area.

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DEER THREATENED: And while we're fretting about insect pests that could destroy many of our state's trees, here comes news about a threat to our deer population. Minnesota officials say a preliminary test indicates that a deer taken by a hunter about 60 miles north of the Iowa border suffered from chronic wasting disease - a contagious, fatal disease among deer and elk. If confirmed in further testing, it will be the first case found in Minnesota's wild deer herd. The disease has been spreading in many parts of the nation, including Wisconsin and Illinois. It can significantly affect the size of wild deer and elk herds. No cure found yet for this disease; tracking, hunter education and herd management are tools used so far.