Don’t Move Firewood [Videos]
You might ask “why is this nature blogger nagging everyone about firewood”? Back in December the state passed a new regulation on the movement of firewood and I am afraid that this new rule will be ignored or forgotten by the next person who enjoys their campfire! I am now doing my part in helping everyone understand why it is dangerous to move firewood long distances!!
MW enjoying one of our Campfire!
Over the past15 years we have seen many exotic insects move through an area and infested millions of trees. Many of these species like the Sirex Wood Wasp, Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer are some of the more popular aliens that have attacked our trees. Most of this firewood hype started with the invasion of the Emerald Ash Borer in the Michigan area! It is now only a matter of time till this evil insect arrives in New York State to kill our Ash trees. I feel confident that when it does arrive that it will be transported here by means of a pickup-truck.
The Nature Conservancy has found a wonderful approach in making some videos fun but still providing the educational details regarding the importance of not moving firewood. This next video with the Smith family going camping is my one of my favorites!!
Don’t you love that guy in that Emerald Ash Borer outfit? he he he . . . The Nature Conservancy have a handful of other videos that follow a similar theme that you should check out!! Ok, this video “Behind the Bug” will also make you smile when you watch it!
We are not saying that you can’t enjoy your Campfires . . . just purchase your firewood from a local retailer that cuts locally. Think how much money you could save by not hauling firewood in the back of your vehicle!!
Thanks to the Nature Conservancy for use of their Don’t Move Firewood videos who own the copyright of the videos (they were posted with permission)!
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Wonderful blog today. Very informative. Thanks for getting this out there. I don’t think people realize. Many don’t have a clue, others don’t stop and think!
I followed your lead and posted “10 Reasons…” to my own blog yesterday. It was fun to reflect and just the therapy I needed to help me through this frosty Central Maine winter. Thanks for the nudge!
7 February 2009 at 7:00 am
Since I rarely get to enjoy a wood fire of any sort I haven’t thought of the problem of the pests being trucked in. I sure hope the Ash borer doesn’t come to our garden. We have already lost our pine trees to pine borers. Sigh ~~
7 February 2009 at 8:03 am
This is an issue I had never even thought of–firewood being the transport means for invasion of deadly insects.
Well, we no longer get firewood.
But I will keep this in mind if anyone proposes a campfire–I’ll say–where do you plan to get the wood?
7 February 2009 at 8:54 am
I never would have thought of this either Tom. Thanks for the info and for the giggles with the PSA’s.
7 February 2009 at 9:13 am
All our campgrounds on Ontario have similar signs. Very important information. Buy local applies to more than food…a lot of problems have been created by moving animals, fish, plants to areas where they are not native. I love the picture of the girl silhouetted in front of the fire.
7 February 2009 at 10:01 am
I have a problem with buying wood to heat our house. We received one load that had a couple of pieces with gypsy moth nests. I showed the guy what they looked like and asked him to never sell that wood. I am burning up that whole load to make sure we protect our woods.
The next guy we received wood from knew about the gypsy moth and so he didn’t have any. But, he sells his wood mostly in the next county which he is not supposed to do because there is a quarantine in our county.
So, my husband and I cut wood last week to avoid buying more wood. I think the emerald ash borer is already in our woods. I think I have seen the insect around.
7 February 2009 at 11:07 am
Good advice. Because we don’t burn firewood, this would never occur to me. It’s amazing how often an innocent act can have such dire consequences. Great videos.
7 February 2009 at 11:37 am
As an avid camper in PA, this is something that I’ve known for a while since it has become a great concern in the area.This is so important and yet people are not aware. Thanks for helping to educate those who follow your blog!
7 February 2009 at 12:32 pm
Bwah ha! Great videos!
7 February 2009 at 3:26 pm
Great video and thanks for sharing it. We have our own problem here in Central Massachusetts with the Asian Longhorned Beetle. Hundreds of trees have to be cut down and homeowners are absolutely heart broken. It is very depressing to see areas that had so much trees now barren and void of life. My heart cries when I think of the summer birds coming back to nest this year only to see their favorite trees gone. :o(
7 February 2009 at 4:25 pm
“Playbug”….that’s hilarious.
Whatever it takes to educate people.
We live in a borer-free county, and I really hope we stay that way.
7 February 2009 at 4:40 pm
@ Karen – Thanks and the main thing is making people aware! Also saw you 10, I mean 11 reasons! LOL Thanks
@ Lisa – But you never know when you might need some firewood . . . it is good to be aware of the issue! Thanks
@ KGMom – great and be sure to get local wood!
@ jayne – glad you enjoyed the PSA’s . . . Thanks
@ Ruth – You will prob see many more posters this year on the issue! That girl is Young Naturalist J’s sister! Was one of the last pictures I captured with one of my older sonys!
@ Joan – OMG that is just crazy! So glad you are aware of the problem and take the time to inspect your wood! Thanks for doing the right thing!
@ Robin – It is amazing what an innocent act could be bad . . and that is normally how it happens!
@ Kelley – many people who get firewood is aware of this issue . . but like Robin said . . it is someone that is doing something innocent that causes the problem! Thanks and glad to share!
@ Lana – thanks, TNC did a great job with the videos!
@ Kallen – it is a shame to loose our trees like this! Our birdies need our help!
@ Susan – LOL was wondering if anyone would notice that! We are within 100 miles of it!
7 February 2009 at 5:12 pm
It will wreak havoc in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties when it gets here. I hunt in some primarily ash groves and losing them would drastically change the local ecology.
7 February 2009 at 5:15 pm
Great post! We all need a reminder! A couple of nice young men came and put up traps on our tree line last summer, for these lousy buggers – I suppose to see if we are having the problem. These kinds of things are scary. I remember years ago when the gypsy caterpillars were out of control. In July there was not a single leaf on any tree on the mountain behind our house!!! Thankfully…the trees survived!
7 February 2009 at 9:24 pm
I’m sure most people wouldn’t even think about that. There was an article in our paper this past year about the Ash Borer. They have put those purple traps on some trees around here and people were wondering what they were. Cute videos.
8 February 2009 at 12:11 am
I knew of some problems, but not nearly all of these. Of course, I think of Kilmer’s poem, “I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree.” Trees have always been very special to me as someone from northwestern Wisconsin (read: logging country). When I read “The Lord of the Rings”, my favorite part was the Ents coming to the rescue.
8 February 2009 at 12:28 am
Hola 🙂
It’s been a while since my last visit, I come back and find these videos.
Playbug was just too funny!!
I thin humor is one of the best ways of sharing this kind of information, people remembers, and that is the key for a powerful message.
8 February 2009 at 1:51 am
Honestly, living so far away I never considered this thanks for the heads up!
8 February 2009 at 2:28 am
@ Mike, I wouldn’t be surprised if Erie Co gets it before the southern tier does! They are closer to use from Ontario than in Ohio/PA! it is a change no matter where you live!
@ Bird Girl – Thanks and we have those Purple Traps around here also! That means that you are within 100 miles of the bug.
@ Linda – Glad the word is getting out in your area . . . it is a scary thing!
@ Gayle – wonderful poem, thanks for sharing!
@ Mel – Welcome back . . . missed ya!
@ aullori – You never know if you would travel and or if someone travels your way!
8 February 2009 at 11:04 am
Those are great. Nature Conservancy did a good job on them… I think they’ll get the message across. I’ve never thought of it either… but then again, I would never hike in wood. Gas stove only to cook on.
8 February 2009 at 4:26 pm
Unfortunately, even stopping the movement of firewood is probably too little, too late. With no natural predators and mild winters that don’t effectively limit the number of larvae, these insects are going to wreak havoc with our natives forests. It’s sad, and one of those things that will have a tremendous impact with little to no chance of avoidance.
9 February 2009 at 7:20 pm
Good videos. I hope our visitors are more informed than the Smith family. Nice to see those campfire pictures again.
9 February 2009 at 11:47 pm
@ red – many don’t think about taking firewood with them but it is something to think about!
@ Marty – I know, its a matter of when will it happen! But the longer it takes the better my though!
@ Grace – I love that one!
10 February 2009 at 8:12 pm
my dad cuts his own wood– for our house; we have a wood stove to help save money
17 February 2009 at 12:15 pm