You Can Help Our Forests!

Destructive non-native forest insects and diseases such as the Emerald Ash Borer, the Asian Longhorned Beetle and Sudden Oak Death fungus have found their way into the United States and are now “hitchhiking” from state to state in firewood and nursery stock.
On their own, these pests move very slowly, only a couple of miles or less per year. Unfortunately, people are innocently providing a ready means of dispersal, often several hundred miles per day, by bringing infested firewood from home to their camping, sporting or second home destination.
One insect species, the Emerald Ash Borer, has already killed more than 30 million ash trees in the Midwest. That’s the amount of wood needed to build 150,000 homes!
This one insect pest has the potential to virtually eliminate all ash species in North America.

None of these pests have been found in Vermont yet, although Emerald Ash Borer has been found 30 miles from our northwestern border and Asian Long Horned beetle has been found in Worcester, MA, just miles from our southeastern border.

What can you do to Help?
You will probably not see destructive pests hiding in your firewood, but you can prevent them from “hitchhiking” and starting new infestations by always following these simple rules:
•Use local sources of firewood.
• Don’t bring firewood from home when you travel, and don’t return home with firewood from another state.
•A good rule is never move firewood more than 50 miles. If you have already brought firewood from home, do not take it back or leave it behind. Burn it as soon as possible.

For More Information Please Visit www.vtfpr.org/firewood