Firewood Movement and the Emerald Ash Borer

This Report is from Dovetail Partners

Firewood Movement and the Emerald Ash Borer

Dr. Steve Bratkovich

For decades, chestnut blight, Dutch elm disease, and the gypsy moth have wreaked havoc on the forests of North America. Today, another round of invasive pests including the Sirex wood wasp, Asian longhorn beetle and the emerald ash borer (EAB) are demonstrating their negative impacts. In particular, the EAB (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) is having far reaching consequences for rural and urban forest managers, owners and users.

 

Because the spread of EAB in the U.S. has been linked to the movement of firewood from infested to non-infested areas, the consequences to firewood producers, marketers, and users is significant.

 

This report addresses the current status of EAB and firewood movement in the United States including quarantines, regulations, and options for the firewood industry EAB and Firewood Report  

 

 

The Pallet to Firewood Pest Connection - Don't Move Firewood Blog

05/01/2013 2:20 PM

The pallet to firewood pest connection

Posted by: F. Campbell

At least 58 non-native wood-boring insect species have been detected in the United States since 1985; nearly all are suspected of having entered the country in crates, pallets, or other forms of packaging made of wood. And despite the far tighter regulations on wooden packaging that were put in place in 2006, some wood boring insects are bound to continue sneaking into North America.
Since these insects live deep inside wood, they are difficult for people to detect. This means that importers and shipping companies have a tough time seeing if wood is contaminated, and just about anyone could unknowingly spread these pests within contaminated firewood.

Two examples of the severe harm that this sort of pest can wreak are the Asian longhorned beetle and emerald ash borer. The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) has been introduced to North America and Europe more than a dozen times via contaminated wood packaging from China. Most of these outbreaks were not discovered for many years – because even though this is a large insect, it spends most of the year hidden inside the heart of the tree.

The U.S., Canadian, and European governments have spent close to $600 million dollars- and removed nearly 100,000 trees- in order to eradicate these outbreaks. Thankfully, these programs are succeeding: as of this writing, four of the seven North American ALB populations have been eradicated: Chicago IL; Long Island NY; Hudson County NJ; and Toronto, Canada.

But three outbreaks remain – a fairly isolated infestation within New York City, the large infestation in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the newest found ALB infestation in Clermont County, Ohio. The infestations in Massachusetts and Ohio will be difficult to eradicate, but history has shown that it is possible if given the proper time and resources.

The emerald ash borer apparently entered North America only once, according to genetic evidence and scientific analysis of infested trees . However, it has spread rapidly to an area of almost 200,000 square miles in 19 states. So far, EAB has killed more than 50 million trees. After spending more than $300 million over 10 years, the U.S. and Canadian governments now leave efforts to states, cities, and homeowners. Towns and homeowners are now responsible for the costly (estimated at $1.2 billion per year) removal of dead and dying ash trees before they fall over, damage property, or injure people.
It can feel so disheartening to read about these problems, but there are several concrete things that anyone can do that will really help.

• Don’t move firewood- use only local or heat treated firewood when you go camping or traveling.
• Tell your friends, your coworkers, and your family about the issue of contaminated firewood.
• Educate yourself on how to spot the symptoms of pest infestations. Learn about ALB exit holes, take a look at this picture of a nearly dead ash tree with strange leafy sprouts near the base of the trunk (caused by EAB damage), and look around for excessive or strange looking woodpecker damage on individual trees.
• If you see a sickly or dying tree that you suspect might be infested by pests, report it to your state agricultural, natural resources, or forestry agency. Quick reporting can make the difference between a small infestation that is controlled quickly, or a huge infestation that causes the deaths of thousands of trees.

Insects Found in Nearly 50% of Retail Firewood

Lanham, MD; Oct 9, 2012 – A new study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology reports that live insects were found in 47% of firewood bundles purchased from big box stores, gas stations and grocery stores in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Untreated firewood can harbor pathogens and destructive insects such as the emerald ash borer, the Asian longhorned beetle, bark beetles and others, and transport them to uninfested areas. Furthermore, the risk of moving insects in untreated firewood is high, the authors found, because insects emerged up to 558 days from the purchase date of the wood.

There are currently no national regulations on the commercial firewood industry that require firewood to be treated before use or sale to reduce the possibility of live insects or pathogens on or in the wood. Several state and federal agencies are attempting to reduce the risk of introducing invasive native or exotic species by restricting the distance firewood can move from its origin and by enacting outreach programs to educate the public.

However, the authors conclude that heat-treating firewood before it is shipped so that insects or pathogens are killed would be prudent and would not restrict firewood commerce as much as bans on firewood movement across state borders.

Click here for the full article, "Retail Firewood Can Transport Live Tree Pests."

Promise Illinois—don't move firewood

Published: Sep. 2, 2011

Source: Martha Smith, 309-756-9978, smithma@illinois.edu

Perhaps you have heard of a little green beetle that is devastating ash trees wherever it is found, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. 

"The pest is the emerald ash borer (EAB), and it is a real threat to our urban forests," said Martha Smith. "In many communities, ash trees make up a large percentage of municipal street trees and ash trees are popular home landscape trees, due to the shade provided by quick growth.
"But now these trees are seriously threatened. The EAB has killed tens of millions of trees, destroying our forests, fishing spots, campgrounds and neighborhoods."
It was first discovered in Michigan in 2002. The beetle, originally from Asia, didn't arrive in the United States on its own. It had the help of man and transportation. It is suspected to have come in cargo through the ports of Detroit, Mich. From Detroit it moved west and eventually entered Illinois.
First found in 2006 in the far west suburbs of Chicago, it is strongly believed to have hitchhiked on infested firewood brought from Michigan.
"If left on its own — flying an annual average of only 1 to 3 miles — it should have taken about 95 years to reach Chicago from Detroit," Smith explained. "Speeding up EAB's destructive path is the artificial spread by people unknowingly transporting the beetles through infested firewood and various wood-end products."
Watching where EAB has been discovered has made predicting where it will show up very obvious — along major routes of transportation and near campgrounds.
In Illinois this was very apparent when in 2008 it was found near the crossroads of Interstates 39 and 80 in LaSalle-Peru. The following season it was found along I-55 in McLean County and in 2010 along I-57 in Iroquois and Champaign counties. All discoveries were along major transportation routes often with rest areas nearby where EAB was found on a purple sticky trap. EAB also has been found in remote locations in Missouri and Tennessee. Both findings were near campgrounds where people brought in firewood and left behind what they didn't burn.
"The most effective way to stop EAB is to not move firewood," she said. "The beetle's eggs and larvae tunnel into the trees they infest. Cutting a tree into firewood does not kill EAB developing inside of it. Adult beetles can still emerge, infesting healthy trees when they do. Often, when discovered, EAB has been there for several years and ash trees are dying.
"Humans can unknowingly transport EAB hundreds of miles in firewood. That's why it is so important to make sure your wood is from local sources and to burn it where you buy it," Smith said.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture recommends you do not carry any unused firewood with you to your next destination. Don't carry it across county or state lines. The best approach is to not move firewood from your property, and definitely don't move wood out of quarantine areas. At many parks and campgrounds, firewood is sold on site. In fact, some state parks will not even allow people to supply their own firewood. As an extra precaution, crews are regularly sent out to collect any remaining firewood and burn it.
"When purchasing any firewood, always ask about its origins," Smith said. "Ask if it is from a local source. Once cut, it is difficult to tell what kind of wood it is; therefore movement of all hardwood firewood, including ash, oak, maple and hickory, is regulated. Try not to keep firewood stored at home.
"Before the onset of spring, be sure to burn your remaining supply of firewood to eliminate the chance of spreading any larvae. Take the oath and promise not to move firewood."
For more information, visit www.stopthebeetle.info.
For information on EAB in Illinois, visit www.agr.state.il.us/eab/index.php

New Firewood Pest Alert

Pest Alert! Firewood: Threat From Invasive Beetles (PDF | 205 KB)

Massachussets Pest Outreach Project.

Prepared by: DOI. NPS. Integrated Pest Management Program.

Firewood may contain non-native insects and plant diseases. Bringing firewood into the park from other areas may accidentally spread pest insects and diseases that threaten park resources and the health of our forests.

APHIS releases risk assessment of firewood movement

From the National Association of State Foresters

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has just released a "Risk Assessment of the Movement of Firewood within the United States" (PDF) The Risk Assessment concludes that "Movement of firewood is a high-risk pathway for spreading non-native and native forest pests in the United States. We recommend that Federal and State regulatory agencies examine the current regulations for firewood movement and coordinate efforts to mitigate the potential risks, with primary focus on long-distance and urban area movement."

Make the Promise Not to Move Firewood

January 2009 Illinois EAB newletter

The latest Illinois EAB newsletter is now posted online. Included in the newsletter is information on the 2009 trapping strategy and new firewood importation law.

Firewood: Burn It Where You Buy It

Take a cue from Maryland....

ANNAPOLIS (Jan. 13, 2009) – The Maryland Invasive Species Council has chosen firewood as the January 2009 Invader of the Month. In Maryland, it is illegal to move hardwood firewood out of Prince George’s or Charles counties because of the risk of spreading the emerald ash borer, a devastating insect pest. It is important for residents to stop moving firewood and to help inform others about why they should too.

All types of firewood can transport invasive plant pests and diseases. In the Midwest, the emerald ash borer is responsible for the loss of millions of ash trees. Long before it was identified as the culprit, people unknowingly carried the emerald ash borer to uninfested areas on firewood and other ash wood products.

Gypsy moths, oak wilt, Dutch elm disease, sirex wood wasp, and the Asian longhorned beetle are among the many insects and diseases that can travel on firewood and devastate previously uninfested forests. Firewood that looks normal might still be infested with these and other forest pests and diseases.

State and federal agencies have implemented regulations to address a number of known pest pathways such as firewood. As an example, quarantines in emerald ash borer-infested states (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) help to prevent potentially infested ash products from moving out of infested areas.

In Kentucky, officials do not allow out-of-state firewood to be brought into campgrounds at state parks. Minnesota requires that all firewood sold or distributed across state boundaries or more than 100 miles from its origin be labeled with point of harvest. New York has an aggressive emergency regulation restricting the importation and movement of firewood. Pennsylvania has banned the importation of out-of-state firewood unless it is kiln-dried or USDA certified. In Maryland, the Department of Natural Resources has a policy prohibiting campers and other visitors from bringing outside firewood onto all DNR-owned or -managed properties.

Although regulations are necessary and helpful, the most effective tools are outreach, education, and the simple act of letting friends, neighbors, colleagues and family know. Help protect our natural resources by following this simple firewood recommendation and encouraging others to do the same: Buy firewood when you reach your destination and burn it all on site – “Buy it Where You Burn It.” In many places it’s the law. Everywhere else, it’s the right thing to do.

Source: Maryland Department of Agriculture

New law will try to combat emerald ash borer threat

Out-of-state firewood dealers must register

By TIM LANDIS
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted Jan 02, 2009 @ 07:01 PM

Put another log on the fire. But make sure it’s EAB free — as in emerald ash borer.

Among new laws that took effect Jan. 1 is one intended to combat the spread of the destructive beetle by requiring out-of-state dealers who sell wood in the state to register with the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

“It’s not going to impact the local grocery store, convenience store or gas station, but it most likely will impact the place that they get their firewood,” said Warren Goetsch, manager of the Division of Natural Resources for the agency.

Beetle infestations linked to the deaths of millions of ash trees across the Midwest have been found in 21 Illinois counties, including as close to Springfield as the Bloomington area. The borer was first found in the Midwest in 2002.

The first infection in Illinois was found in the northern portion of the state in 2006.

A quarantine in the counties prohibits removing ash trees, including branches and limbs, from those counties. Last spring, the Department of Agriculture placed nearly 4,700 sticky traps across central and southern Illinois to help detect the beetles.

The owner of a local tree service said it is common for out-of-state dealers to sell in the Springfield area.

“There are a lot of people out of Missouri who come up here all the time,” said Earl Throop with Throop & Son Tree Service. The company also sells firewood but only within Sangamon County, Throop said.

“Anyplace where they’re cutting timber, here’s what happens. The timber jack will go in and take the timber out, then they (firewood dealers) go in and take the tops out of the trees and haul them out of the woods,” said Throop, who added that he believes it will be difficult for state regulator to track out-of-state sales.

“It’s like moonshining,” Throop said.

Goetsch said the state has compliance agreements with more than 700 Illinois companies, including tree nurseries, tree-trimming services and landscapers. Out-of-state dealers also are required to obtain a federal shield notice on wood that certifies it is free of infestation or has been properly treated.

But he agreed it is difficult to tell how many out-of-state companies are selling firewood in Illinois.

“We really don’t have a good figure on the number of entities that might be importing firewood into the state,” Goetsch said. “It’s one of the reasons the General Assembly wanted us to come up with a set of regulations.”

The department also has urged consumers to purchase locally grown and cut firewood.

What the law requires

*Effective Jan. 1, out-of-state dealers who sell firewood in Illinois are required to register annually with the Illinois Department of Agriculture for a fee of $25. Applications are available at www.agr.state.il.us.

*Companies that fail to comply are subject to fines.

*Additional information on the emerald ash borer is available at www.illinoiseab.com.

Illinois EAB Newsletter

The latest edition of the Illinois Emerald Ash Borer newsletter has been published. Find out more about the new quarantine boundaries, purple trap survey, and firewood restrictions.

With camping season starting, remember to buy your firewood at your destination and remember to burn it all before you leave.

From Minnesota: Proposed firewood restrictions from DNR aim to thwart pests

Associated Press

ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants lawmakers to approve what could be some of the strictest firewood restrictions in the Upper Midwest before the spring camping season starts.

The DNR hopes a proposed ban on unapproved firewood will head off infestations of tree-destroying bugs such as the emerald ash borer.

Firewood provides easy transportation for destructive forest pests seeking to invade new territories, often where the native trees are defenseless. Without a ride, the bugs can't move very fast - usually less than a mile a year.

"We, along with many other states, are trying to move to a culture change, recognizing this is a pathway in which these harmful species can be artificially moved to new areas," said Ed Quinn, the DNR's coordinator of the resource management program for state parks.

The draft policy would restrict the use of firewood in 58 state forests, 72 park and recreation areas and other lands administered by the DNR. Only approved firewood would be allowed, including wood sold on site, wood bought from a regulated seller who gathered it within 50 miles of the park, debarked wood and dimensional lumber such as 2-by-4s.

The agency doesn't have legislative sponsors yet.

The proposal would go beyond restrictions in six other Midwestern states.

Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin bar wood from infested locations or other states. Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota request that campers don't bring in out-of-state firewood but don't actually ban it.

In a state with a wealth of ash trees, Minnesota officials are particularly concerned about the emerald ash borer. The tiny green bugs have killed millions of ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana since 2002. Michigan's restrictions on firewood came too late to prevent extensive damage.

Minnesota DNR surveys show that about half of the vehicles that visit parks overnight have firewood on board. Quinn said 105,500 vehicles entered parks and forests for overnight visits in 2005, meaning about 50,000 or so brought wood.

Campers bring their own firewood to save money and ensure that they'll have something to burn even if there's no wood at the campsite, or the wood there is wet.