News Releases

Cankerworms and leafrollers are an annual issue for Saskatoon’s urban forest. The trees may experience heavy defoliation but, unless there are underlying issues, the trees will put out new leaves and recover.

Cankerworms, also known as loopers and inchworms, are found primarily on elm, but will also feed on other tree species. The fall and spring cankerworm species often feed together during June and July. The caterpillars can be found hanging from silken threads underneath infested trees and can be a nuisance.

Leafrollers often feed while concealed within leaves that are rolled or tied together with silk webbing. Leafrollers can be found on a wide variety of trees. The leaves will often remain rolled throughout the summer but leafrolling does not affect a tree’s health.

Tree banding can be used to deter cankerworms; however, it is not effective against leafrollers or other insects in the urban forest. The best time to place bands on trees is from September to May to help prevent the wingless adult female cankerworm moths from climbing host trees to lay their eggs. It is important to remove the bands at the beginning of June because the bands can collect moisture and cause the trunk to rot.

The City does not control cankerworms, or leafrollers as they typically do not impact the health of the trees they attack. Homeowners interested in controlling them on their own trees should contact a horticulture professional for advice. For additional information on insects and tree diseases, please visit saskatoon.ca/treepests.

Shared e-scooters are back for another season, providing Saskatoon residents and visitors with another way to get around the city.

The City of Saskatoon is pleased to announce that Bird and Neuron have been selected as the successful vendors to provide shared e-scooter service in Saskatoon from spring through early fall for the next five years. City Council approved the use of shared e-scooters in Saskatoon following a successful pilot program which ran in 2023 and 2024.

Shared e-scooters are available to ride today. To ride an e-scooter, start by downloading the Bird or Neuron apps on the Apple Store or on Google Play.

E-scooter users must follow Provincial regulations: e-scooters cannot be operated at a speed greater than 24 km/hr, minimum rider age of 16 years or older and riders are required to wear helmets.

Shared e-scooters must operate within the approved service area (found on the vendors app) on shared-use paths, pathways, cycle tracks, protected bike lanes and – where no such paths are available – may ride on streets with posted speed limits of 50 km/hr or lower. E-scooters are not permitted to ride on sidewalks.

Please ride responsibly to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all road and pathway users.

To learn more about e-scooters in Saskatoon, please visit this webpage.

About Bird and Neuron  

Bird and Neuron are leading providers of shared e-scooters, operating in multiple cities across North America and Australia. Both companies provide affordable and sustainable transportation options to communities worldwide.