8 years ago
17
PSA: Please don't bring wood to your camping sites from other areas. Ash trees are in big trouble from the emerald ash borer beetle
The emerald ash borer (EAB) is threatening our nation's ash trees. Millions of ash trees have already been killed. See what you can do to help.
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http://stopthebeetle.info
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The ash trees are done. At least in Michigan, there isn't a stand of live ash left in the whole state. We've been clear-cutting it off of our properties before it starts falling and rotting away.
They could have nipped this in the bud and aggressively eliminated trees when they first found out about it, but the MDNR dicked around and now it's all over.
We have a similar situation here with the pine beetle. Its been devastating our forests for a while now, really no stopping it.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard at different campgrounds people say, "That's just stupid, it says we can't bring our own wood in here. Guess they're trying to protect their $20 at the gate wood business." or something along those lines. I'll even cop to sometimes feeling that way, but usually only based on the insane prices some places have.
I have encountered folks with this mentality as well and I find it incredibly frustrating. Regular campers/hikers/sportsmen are usually aware of the ash borer issue, but I wish there were more public awareness campaigns and information available to the general public!
I believe that Reserve America will send you a letter with the rules on it if you go to a park that allows wood burning. We went to a park in Virginia and they emailed and mailed a warning letter about bringing your own wood from out of the area. It could have been a Virginia Parks notice and not one from Reserve America though.
That's an awesome program and exactly what I am talking about! Did you receive the letter after arriving? Or after making a reservation?
I'm pretty certain, can't remember exactly, that it was sent via email before arriving and handed out on arrival along with the Check-In agent underlining it. It's been a couple of years since we've been there though. Now you have me thinking about it I'm sure it's something individual park based because the Florida Beach parks don't give one of those statements out, I'm looking at that email now from a month ago and it's mentioned but not a big part of the email documents.
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The emerald ash borer got a lot of Ash trees in my area.
I'm from Michigan and I haven't seen a live ash tree in years.
The counties all put a fine on here for moving ash wood from county to somewhere else,but it did not slow the EAB down. I am not sure people listened,but probably would not have stopped it anyway.
It wouldn't have, the bug can travel 5 miles from an infested tree to find a new one. They should have sprayed or cleared any ash within 10 miles of where they first found it. But now, every measure they take is too little, too late. The ash is dead, and until we eliminate the bug, the seedlings that still keep popping up will keep dying once they're mature enough to host. That's going to be difficult because it's now being found in other trees as well.
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