Happy Halloween everyone! I don’t know if anyone will be dressed up like an Emerald Ash Borer for Halloween, like our Project Wild America Youth Ambassadors were for their invasives community outreach event over the summer, but we should be on the lookout for these and other scary pests on this Hallow’s eve.
Looking for a scary last minute mask for tonight’s festivities? Check out Don’t Move Firewood for a template here: http://www.dontmovefirewood.org/toolbox#kids
While tonight will be fairly warm, the cooler weather is on its way and the need for firewood will increase. As you cut or buy wood to heat your home for the winter or get that last camping trip in before the snow flies, you should be aware of where your wood is coming from and what frightening forest pests could be residing within it.
Could you have one of these creepy crawlies in your firewood?
Buying locally and knowing your wood’s origin can greatly reduce the risk of moving scary forest pests such as Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorned Beetle and even Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. Further educating yourself and volunteering your time to assist in early detection surveys can also decrease the risks of further spreading invasives throughout our region. Stay tuned as we will soon be announcing our upcoming training and surveys looking for hemlock woolly adelgid and describe how you can get involved in slowing its spread!
Elyse Henshaw
Conservation Technician
