KANSAS CITY,
Mo. —
Headed to one of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ lakes for the upcoming
holiday weekend? David Hoover, a Conservation
Biologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District is asking park
visitors to leave their firewood at home.
“Firewood
brought from home on a weekend camping trip may harbor the invasive and highly
destructive emerald ash borer,” Hoover says. “Moving firewood associated with
recreational camping is one of the main ways the emerald ash borer has expanded
its range.”
This
small, metallic green colored insect is not native to North America. Emerald
ash borer only attack ash trees and have already killed millions of green ash
trees in the eastern half of the United States.
Hoover noted, “Green ash is one of the most common tree species on
Corps’ project lands and provides shade in recreation areas and important
habitat for native wildlife.” First documented in 2002 near Detroit, Mich., the
emerald ash borer has greatly expanded its range and is now found in 25
states.
Corps’
Natural Resource Managers try and maintain healthy native plant and animal
populations but non-native invasive species can interfere with that task.
“Adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae,
insects at the immature stage, feed on the inner bark of ash trees disrupting
the tree's ability to transport nutrients, ultimately killing the tree,”
explains Hoover. Both larvae
and adults can unknowingly be transported on firewood. When brought to a new location on firewood
they can establish a new population, especially if unburnt firewood is left. While
their range expansion is generally a slow process, taking firewood to your
favorite park or campground miles from home can quickly expand that range by
establishing a new population outside the currently impacted area.
“At
Corps lakes it’s important to check with the local project office for
information on purchasing firewood and designated fire areas such as contained
fireplaces, grills or other facilities specifically for this purpose. Remember
not to leave a fire unattended and ensure the fire is completely extinguished
prior to departure,” said Hoover.
Federal and state regulatory agencies have
established quarantines and fines to prevent potentially infested ash trees,
logs or hardwood firewood from moving out of areas where emerald ash borer
occurs.
“We’re working with the Kansas Forest Service, Kansas Department of Agriculture
and Missouri Department of Conservation to educate the public about
environmental damages associated with the emerald ash borer and the movement of
firewood. For the health of our parks and forests, it is critical that we have
the cooperation of the public in not moving firewood. Obtain your firewood at the park and burn
your entire supply. For the same reason
we don’t want visitors bringing firewood from home you shouldn’t take unused
firewood from the park back to your home.
With the help of our recreation visitors, we can slow the spread of the
emerald ash borer.”
To
learn more about the Corps’ efforts to combat invasive species online: http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental/InvasiveSpeciesManagement.aspx