The Voyageurs Voice ... Rainy Lake Houseboats Newsletter

Protect Our Trees From Bad Bugs - Don't Move Firewood

Firewood Movement and Forest Pests
Movement of firewood has been closely associated with the spread of several very damaging forest pests, including the emerald ash borer (EAB), Sirex wood wasp, gypsy moth, Asian long-horned beetle, and a number of other wood-boring insects, plus decay and wood-stain fungi as well as the pathogens that cause Dutch elm disease, oak wilt, and sudden oak death.

Firewood is a prime candidate for movement of forest pests into new areas since, unlike other forest products such as nursery stock and lumber, the movement of firewood is largely unregulated because it relies heavily on individuals and small operations that come and go.

Our state forests and neighborhood trees are at particular risk from EAB. Minnesota has the third largest volume of ash timber in the nation and ash trees were used extensively as street trees to replace elms lost to Dutch elm disease in the '70s and '80s.

EAB is a tiny bug that is devastating forests and neighborhood trees in Canada and several of Minnesota's neighboring states. To date, EAB has killed more than 20 million ash trees and infested over 40,000 square miles in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and parts ofCanada.

Approximately 50 percent of overnight visitors typically bring firewood to Minnesota state parks and state forest campgrounds annually, putting state lands at risk for pest infestations.

Picture this: Insect pests spread at a rate of about 0.5 to 2 miles per year on their own. When they are carried on firewood, their spread rate jumps to 55 miles per hour.

What Can I Do to Help "Slow the Spread"?
When camping or picnicking at a state park, state forest campground or day-use area, or any other DNR facility, purchase your firewood from the park or a local vendor. Don't bring firewood from home.

Check with the state park or state forest campground before you leave home to make sure you know the latest recommendations and regulations on firewood movement to and withinMinnesota.

Don't transport wood from your home area to your lake cabin or other recreation sites around the state. Buy your firewood locally from someone who harvests Minnesota-grown trees.

State and Federal Agencies Involved
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has primary responsibility for regulating plant and animal pests moving into and within Minnesota. They oversee efforts to detect and eradicate pests new to Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) is the lead agency responsible for forest pests once they become established in the state. MNDNR also oversees the protection and management of natural resources on all DNR-administered lands.

APHIS and MDA already have regulations and procedures in place to monitor the movement of wood products in the major forest industries, such as nurseries and timber. Businesses importing goods from quarantined areas must be under a compliance agreement stipulating the terms of import before they are allowed to move articles into the state.

In response to the threat of pests being introduced to parts of Minnesota on firewood, an interagency task force was organized to coordinate efforts to reduce the risk of introduction. The task force includes representatives from: APHIS, MDA, USDA Forest Service, and MNDNR.

To Learn More About It....
For more information on EAB, visit www.emeraldashborer.info
MNDNR, PSA "Don't Move Firewood, Prevent spread of Emerald Ash Borer"

For more information on the Minnesota EAB survey and detection program, visit www.mda.state.mn.us/invasives/eab

For more information on how firewood restrictions are affecting state parks and recreation areas, call the MNDNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or Toll Free at 1-888-MINNDNR.

Thanks for doing your part to save Minnesota's trees by leaving firewood at home. It's the right thing to do....

Up North Outdoors
This site was created by: Up North Outdoors Inc.
Interested in: Advertising with UpNorthOutdoors.com