El Reccoral processional caterpillars

So presumably it’s necessary to only walk dogs on the lead?

yes it is the law

Im my experience these drop from January and can continue until May...it is weather dependant.The pods sway in the breeze and the spines from the insects can be carried by the wind.They can impact on humans.
When they drop they form a procession.,nose to tail,some I have videod one at 15ft long..their habitat is one type of pine tree and as I said earlier the ones in El Recorral are young trees that have been infested.These are this years batch.
Keeping dogs on leads is sensible but so is your awareness and observation when walking through any pine trees.

PGA wrote:So presumably it’s necessary to only walk dogs on the lead?

We never walk our dogs anywhere near the pine trees. A few years ago we walked our dog (on the lead) on the road in La Finca Golf urbanisation. He sniffed at the ground where the caterpillars must have trailed across the road to search for fertile ground on the golf course where they lay their eggs. He lost part of his tongue and was lucky to survive. So even if you walk them on the lead and away from the trees, if the caterpillars have left their hairs anywhere, the animals are at risk.

I am astounded by this
I saw them on a wall up near Bolig from memory it was March and I watched them for some time and nearly touched them
so pleased I didn't

and thanks for posting up the dangers