USE CAUTION WHEN TRANSPORTING FIREWOOD BETWEEN STATES

CHEYENNE-- Wildlife and forestry officials are encouraging recreationists visiting Wyoming this summer and fall to be cautious about transporting firewood across state lines.

"Firewood carries insects and diseases that can kill trees," explains Les Koch of Wyoming State Forestry. "Any firewood brought into Wyoming should be completely burned at the campsite in compliance with local fire restrictions. Better yet, leave firewood at home and buy from a local source instead."



Of special concern is the emerald ash borer, an exotic beetle from Asia that has killed more than 20 million ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Koch and other forestry managers are concerned that the beetle could be introduced in Wyoming unknowingly through firewood from an infected area.



"Wyoming has a small but important ash population that we want to conserve," said Koch. Other insect species, such as the mountain pine beetle, gypsy moth and sirex woodwasps also have the potential to destroy forests.



Each insect harms the tree in different ways. Emerald ash borer larvae chew through bark, feeding on the tree for several weeks. Pine beetles carry a fungus that clogs the vascular tissue carrying nutrients to the tree's needles, gradually killing the tree.



The Wyoming Game and Fish is urging sportsmen to cooperate with the firewood guidelines to help preserve Wyoming's natural resources.



"Forests are a vital habitat to hundreds of Wyoming's wildlife species. Detection, control and eradication of invasive insect species is a huge undertaking, if it's possible at all. We want to do everything we can now to lessen the likelihood of any new species becoming established in our state," said Gary Butler, habitat program manager for the Game and Fish.



The emerald ash borer problem has become so serious in some states that government agencies have instituted quarantine laws on ash materials. Individuals or businesses in Michigan found to violate the quarantine can be subject to fines up to $250,000 and jail time. Koch hopes Wyoming never has to face that problem.



Wyoming residents should also follow the same guidelines and not transport firewood to other states.



"No citizen would want to be responsible for transporting and introducing a species like the mountain pine beetle or emerald ash borer into the natural beauty of our nation's forests," he said.