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Emerald Ash Borer is now in Wisconsin

Last post 08-12-2008, 3:50 PM by Mud-Dawg. 1 replies.
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  •  08-12-2008, 2:24 PM 549

    Emerald Ash Borer is now in Wisconsin

    It has been confirmed, The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is here in Wisconsin now. There have been two confirmed reports of EAB since the beginning of August. The first location was near the Town of Saukville, in Ozaukee County at a private woodlot. The second confirmation of EAB was in Washington County, at the Fireman’s Park in Newburg. This is a very serious threat to all of the ash trees in Wisconsin, and EAB has already killed millions of ash trees in other states since its arrival from Asia in 2002.

    Since the discovery of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Washington county, a quarantine has been but in place in four Wisconsin counties to help prevent the spread of EAB. This quarantine area includes Ozaukee, Washington, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan counties. It is a criminal violation to remove any type of wood product (e.g. firewood, nursery stock, lumber) out of the quarantine area, and any one found removing wood from these counties can receive a fine up to $200, six months in jail, or both. The best way to prevent the spread of EAB is to buy firewood at your camping destination. For more information on the Emerald Ash Borer, please go to Emerald Ash Borer Info, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer Protection, and WI DNR.


    We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.
    Aldo Leopold
  •  08-12-2008, 3:50 PM 550 in reply to 549

    Re: Emerald Ash Borer is now in Wisconsin

    Taken from the WI DNR website.

    Tuesday, August 12, 2008

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    Buy firewood locally: New firewood restrictions for Wisconsin state properties

    [EDITOR’S NOTE: This release was initially issued Aug. 8, 2008, and is reprinted here to stress firewood regulations important to controlling the spread of an invasive forest pest, emerald ash borer.]

    MADISON – Now that a emerald ash borer (EAB) has been found in Wisconsin, visitors to state parks, forests and other state properties should expect additional firewood restrictions to help fight the damaging pests.

    Fourth instar emerald ash borer larvae
    Fourth instar emerald ash borer larvae
    WDNR Photo by Shane Lishawa

    “The very best thing to do is to buy firewood locally, and use it all up during your camping trip,” says Andrea Diss-Torrance, a forest health specialist with the Department of Natural Resources.

    Previous firewood rules remain in effect in Wisconsin: Firewood cannot enter any property managed by the DNR, including state park and forest campgrounds, if it was purchased or harvested outside of Wisconsin or farther than 50 miles from the property.

    However, additional firewood restrictions have been put in place for quarantined counties: Firewood purchased, stored, harvested in, or that has in any way entered Ozaukee, Washington, Sheboygan, or Fond du Lac counties -- even if just driving through on the highway -- cannot be taken out of that county. Moving firewood from these counties to a DNR-managed property outside of these counties is a violation of state law, regardless of whether it is within 50 miles. Such firewood will be confiscated at the property.

    “We know at least seven damaging pests and diseases in Wisconsin or nearby states that spread slowly on their own. It is only when we inadvertently move them in infested firewood, nursery stock, or other infested items that they can move long distances, from town to town or state to state,” says Diss-Torrance.

    Quarantines of firewood and other products that can carry pests and diseases significantly slow the spread of these pests and the damage that they do. “They protect uninfested areas like our state parks and forests, by keeping the threat out,” says Diss-Torrance.

    Many people do not realize that the entire eastern half of Wisconsin is also quarantined for the forest pest gypsy moth. Firewood may not leave that half of the state to be taken west. Like the emerald ash borer quarantines, this rule supersedes the 50-mile rule for DNR managed properties and campgrounds.

    More information about Wisconsin’s firewood restrictions is available on the DNR Web site or by calling the Firewood Information Line at 1-877-303-WOOD.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Diss-Torrance (608) 264-9247.


    We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.
    Aldo Leopold
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