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Hitchhiking bugs & disease a firewood danger
BoiseDev, 4-14-23
Well, with yesterday’s snow, it might seem like camping in Idaho’s wilderness isn’t coming soon. But it IS mid-April, and summer WILL come (allegedly). The Idaho Department of Lands is warning that firewood could cause problems to our Idaho forest ecosystem.
They say cutting and gathering firewood in one area and then chucking it in your truck or trailer and burning it somewhere else could bring along invasive insects or diseases. Say you cut the wood near Pine and burn it in the panhandle. Or collect it near Horseshoe Bend and light it up near Horse Thief. You get the idea.
The IDL says even if you can’t see something – that doesn’t mean there isn’t a pest or disease hitching a free ride. The danger is if a species gets introduced in an area it’s not native, it can cause problems and kill trees and other plants.
“Why can non-native insects and diseases be so much worse than the native ones?” Idaho State Forester Craig Foss asked rhetorically. “Native trees have evolved defenses against the insects and diseases that they’ve been living with for thousands of years. Likewise, native predators eat native insects, and that can help keep their numbers in check. Sometimes, non-native insects and diseases arrive in a new area and have no predators in their new homes, and the trees have not evolved effective defenses against them.”
Here’s to a nice (safe) campfire in Idaho’s wilderness soon.
Invasive Bugs can Hitchhike on Firewood, say Idaho Lands Officials
Big Country News, 4-13-23
LEWISTON - With winter finally departing Idaho, many will begin to enjoy Idaho’s wondrous outdoors and sit around campfires. The Idaho Department of Lands says it is important to know that firewood moved from another area to other locations poses a risk to the health of our forests.
Invasive insects and diseases can hitch rides on and in firewood, spreading infection from where the wood was cut to where you camp. Even if you don’t see any pests with your naked eye, that doesn’t mean their tiny eggs or disease microbes aren’t there. By transporting firewood long distances, people may unintentionally be giving an invasive pest a free ride to a new area, says a department release.
A good rule of thumb is to only use and burn wood cut or gathered 50 miles or less from where you build your campfire. Other options include:
- Buy it where you burn it, as long as the wood is harvested locally
- Gather firewood on site when permitted
- Use firewood that is heat treated to kill bugs and pathogens (which is different than kiln dried)
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IDL receives grant for roadside fuel breaks in Clark County
KIFI, 4-12-23
CLARK COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) - It is not uncommon to see a fire along busy roads and highways during fire season. Often fires can be caused by dragging safety chains on trailers, blown tires, and hot exhaust from vehicles that pull to the side of the road, parking on dry, fine fuels. This creates a wildfire hazard that can threaten communities in the Wildland Urban Interface.
Clark County has regular fire occurrences along roadways and the goal of the project is to support firefighting efforts to minimize the number of acres burned by compartmentalizing the landscape.
Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) applied for a grant through the federal Community Wildfire Defense Grant program to assist with roadside fuel breaks in Clark County. A $690,000 grant was awarded in March and will allow IDL and its partners to create right-of-way fuel breaks for approximately 53 miles, helping to decrease the threat of wildfire and protect about 700 homes and structures in Dubois, Kilgore, Spencer, and Medicine Lodge.
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Arbor Day grant awards announced
Bonner County Daily Bee, 4-8-23
Two Bonner County cities have received Arbor Day grants from the Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association. Selected were Dover and East Hope.
This program, held in cooperation with Idaho Department of Lands, Avista, Rocky Mountain Power, and Idaho Power, helps communities celebrate Arbor Day, plant appropriate trees for energy conservation and fosters a stronger relationship between Idaho communities and the Nursery and Utility Industries.
A total of 37 Arbor Day grant applications were received and INLA officials said they were able to fund all of them.
This year grants of $300 each, will be available for communities to purchase trees, shrubs and related materials for their Arbor Day celebration. For the 21st consecutive year, Avista, Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power, in partnership with IDL, have generously donated funds to support this program. The funds are a part of the Idaho Community Forestry Trust Account supported in part through the contributions of these utilities. All Idaho communities are encouraged to participate in the “Planting Idaho” program.
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Buy it where you burn it!
Posted April 13, 2023
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Looking for Volunteers
Posted April 13, 2023
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We are still looking for volunteers for the big 40th Annual Forestry Contest. Help Idaho’s future foresters! https://www.idl.idaho.gov/.../idaho-state-forestry-contest/
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