Odense Municipality spends 15 million DKK on oak processionary moth control

Odense Municipality has spent 15 million DKK on combating the oak processionary moth so far in 2026. This represents a significant increase from the 2 million DKK spent on the same effort last year.

Control teams are currently active in the streets, removing nests, vacuuming larvae from oak trunks, and using foam to heat-treat larvae. Officials expect the current work to conclude by mid-September. While nests are being removed, the municipality warns that hairs from the larvae may still persist.

Because the species cannot be eradicated, the municipality is focusing on limiting spread and reducing risks to citizens and animals. Odense is working toward establishing a 2027 strategy this autumn, drawing on local experiences and international data from countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and England. The municipality is also engaging in efforts to coordinate a national response alongside the Minister for Nature and Animal Welfare.