While many are on summer vacation or are making their summertime plans, forest pests are making their plans too. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and Emerald Ash Borer, both invasive species that are now present in Chautauqua County and beyond, are setting their sites on some summertime love and beautiful landscapes to destroy. As you may recall, this past winter we joined forces with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE) to establish an educational outreach project using bright yellow signs with information about these forest pests. Many of these signs were erected along the snowmobile trails within the county and are now being put along summer hiking trails within the area.
In the past couple of weeks we have erected signs within Panama Rocks’ ancient forest and Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s beautiful Dobbin’s Woods preserve. Our hope is that summer visitors to these incredible locations will take a moment to learn more about the forest pests our local trees have to contend with, and understand that we can slow the spread of these pests. Our landscapes will drastically change if we allow these pests to carry out their summer plans year after year, but through our own plans of hiking, camping and so on we can simply be on the lookout for the presence of these pests and carry out good outdoor practices (not transporting firewood long distances, etc.).
So, part of our summer plans will include continuing to expose these invasive bug’s schemes, thwart their efforts as well as the efforts of other invasive species, and protect the magnificent habitats and natural resources within our region. What are your summer plans?
Elyse Henshaw
Conservation Technician
