Forests, Plants, and Land Conservation News

This month's topics:

• Hike Smart this Fall
• October is Firewood Month
• Tooley Pond Conservation Easement Gets an Upgrade
• Don't Be Confused by Spotted Lanternfly Look-alikes
• Check Out Conservationist Magazine
• Urban and Community Forestry News
  • Community Highlight - Keene, NY
  • Fall ReLeaf Workshops
  • What We're Reading

Hike Smart this Fall

Before you hit the trail on your next outdoor adventure, be sure to check out DEC's Hike Smart NY page to learn about safety, best practices, and preparedness. While recreating on state lands, please follow the Hiker Responsibility Code and avoid busy trailheads. Discover trails less traveled and visit at a time when trails may not be as busy.

Review regulations. Before you head to your next hiking destination, take a moment to review the rules and regulations for the area you will be visiting. Each state land property has rules in place to help protect visitors and the natural resources of the site.

Be prepared. Trails are wet and muddy in areas. Wear waterproof shoes and walk through mud, not around it, to protect trail edges. Seasonal temperatures are dropping, and temperatures are even lower on high summits. Many exposed summits are windy. When you check the weather, be prepared you could encounter ice or snow at high elevations this time of year. Wear appropriate base layers, bring waterproof and windproof outer layers, and pack extra base layers and socks. If conditions become unfavorable, turn around. You can always complete your hike another day.

Be respectful of hunters. Most small game and some waterfowl and big game hunting seasons are open. Hikers should be aware that they may meet hunters bearing firearms or archery equipment while hiking on trails. Recognize that these are fellow outdoor recreationists with the legal right to participate in these activities in areas where it is permitted. Hunting accidents involving non-hunters are extremely rare. Hikers may choose to wear bright colors as an extra precaution.

Manage your time wisely. Be mindful of sunrise and sunset times and plan accordingly. Start long hikes early to ensure you will have enough sunlight to finish before dark, and always bring a headlamp. Check the approximate sunset time before you hit the road.

October is Firewood Month - Follow the NYS Firewood Regulation to Protect Your Forests

DEC marked the beginning of the fall camping season by reminding New Yorkers and visitors to prevent the spread of damaging invasive species by following state firewood requirements when obtaining firewood for campfires. In recognition of October as National Firewood Awareness Month, DEC released a new PSA to help raise awareness about firewood movement and its role in spreading invasive species.

Many people take wood from their properties as they head out to camp, hunt, or enjoy the great outdoors, but most don't realize their wood may be hiding the eggs, larvae, spores, adults, or even seeds of invasive threats. Transporting infested firewood allows invasives to spread further and faster than these pests could or would have on their own.

In 2009, New York State enacted a regulation to prevent this accidental and often long-distance spread by limiting the transportation of firewood. The regulation pertains to all species of wood, cut or not cut, split or not split, destined for use as fuel. Logs are subject to the regulation if their intended use is as firewood. The regulation states that:

• Untreated firewood may not be imported into NY from any other state or country.
• Untreated firewood grown in NY may not be transported more than 50 miles (linear distance) from its source or origin unless it has been heat-treated to 71 degrees Celsius (160 degrees Fahrenheit) for 75 minutes.
  • "Origin" is where the wood was grown.
  • "Source" is for producers of firewood to help account for wood from different origins that may become co-mingled as the firewood is processed. Producers must maintain records of where they acquire the wood from and ensure the origins are within 50 miles of the source, which is usually the address of their business.
• When transporting firewood, the following documentation is required:
  • If transporting untreated firewood cut for personal use (i.e. not for sale), fill out a Self-Issued Certificate of Origin (PDF).
  • If purchasing and transporting untreated firewood, it must have a receipt or label that identifies the firewood source. Consumers need to use the source to determine how far the firewood may be transported.
  • If purchasing and transporting heat-treated firewood, it must have a receipt or label that says, "New York Approved Heat-Treated Firewood/Pest Free." This is the producers' declaration that the firewood meets NY's heat-treatment requirements. Not all "kiln-drying" processes meet this standard, so it is important to look for the appropriate label. Heat-treated firewood may be moved unrestricted.

For more information on the firewood regulation, visit our website. Contact DEC at foresthealth@dec.ny.gov or call toll-free at 1-866-640-0652 with questions about the regulation.

Photo: The Asian longhorned beetle is just one of the invasive forest pests that can hitch a ride in firewood without being detected. (Photo by E. Richard Hoebeke, Cornell University)

Tooley Pond Conservation Easement Gets an Upgrade

A 5-person Student Conservation Association (SCA) crew recently constructed some new amenities on the Tooley Pond Conservation Easement in the town of Clare in Saint Lawrence County. The team built a primitive campsite on the Allen Pond Trail, complete with a new trail to the campsite, an earthen tent pad and a rock ring fireplace, and a trail to a box privy site near the campsite. The project took just two and a half days to complete.　　

When asked about the project, SCA crewmember Emily Brown said that it "feels good to work on a project that will provide lasting memories to those who use it." The campsite was built to last and will provide recreational opportunities on the property for years to come.　

As part of the terms negotiated for the Tooley Pond Conservation Easement dated June 1999, DEC has the right to permit camping by the public in the same manner as currently regulated on state lands, provided that any designated campsites are described in a recreation management plan (RMP). Multiple campsites were proposed in the Tooley Pond Conservation Easement RMP finalized in January 2019, including the Allen Pond site, which is the first site completed.

The Tooley Pond Conservation Easement is open year-round for a multitude of uses. There is a parking area located at the trailhead for the Allen Pond Trail. The trail is only 0.5 miles long, marked with red trail disks, and the new campsite is towards the end of the trail, near the pond. Please note that the road up to the parking area is only open to motor vehicles seasonally, from May 15th to September 15th.

Photo (top): The SCA crew, left to right - Alex Horvath, Emily Brown, Dorothy Lambert, Hansen Menzies, and crew leader Matt DiNome

Photo (bottom): The newly completed campsite

Don't Be Confused by Spotted Lanternfly Look-alikes this Fall

The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is a pesky invasive pest that feeds on lots of important New York plants, such as apple trees and hop vines. With the recent finding of spotted lanternfly (SLF) on Staten Island, it’s never been more important for people to be on the lookout for this invasive. Since SLF spreads primarily through human activity, we really can make a difference.

When you’re keeping a watchful eye, know that SLF can be confused with other common insects you might spot flying around this fall. This time of year, the eastern boxelder bug or even gypsy moth eggs may catch your eye. Our new SLF poster is here to help, with photos of SLF as well as some common look-alikes.

The eastern boxelder bug has black and red markings similar to those of an invasive spotted lanternfly nymph, but the elongated body and red eyes of the eastern boxelder bug help set it apart from SLF. You might find eastern boxelder bugs lounging in sunny spots or even in your home but not to worry - unlike spotted lanternfly they’re harmless.

With high rates of gypsy moth infestation in New York this year, you’re more likely to see their eggs than SLF eggs but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be on the lookout. If you find an egg mass remember, spotted lanternfly eggs look a bit like mud that has dried and cracked. You can find SLF eggs just about anywhere including on firewood, trees, or even cars. Gypsy moth eggs, on the other hand, are lighter in color and fuzzy in texture. You’ll spot gypsy moth eggs on trees, firewood, or piles of rocks, but not on household items like SLF egg masses.

Everyone can help protect New York’s agriculture by keeping an eye out for spotted lanternfly. Be sure to share our new SLF poster to help your friends and family know what to look for. If you believe you’ve seen the invasive spotted lanternfly, please send a photo and the location to spottedlanternfly@agriculture.ny.gov.

Image (top): DEC's new spotted lanternfly look-alikes poster

Photo (bottom): A spotted lanternfly egg mass on the left, next to a gypsy moth egg mass on the right (Photo credit: Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State Extension)

Conservationist Magazine

Check out the latest issue of Conservationist to find out how butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, and even a sniffing dog play important roles in the state’s ecosystems. You can also read about the creation of an urban trail in Rochester that has helped connect a community to nature and brought hope to residents. Readers will learn how to successfully plant a tree in the fall, and read about the work of some organizations to create a healthier environment for all. There’s all this and more in the August/September Conservationist.

Subscribe online or call 1-800-678-6399 to receive the Conservationist year-round.

Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Corner

Community Highlight - Keene, NY

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended so much, including Arbor Day celebrations this past spring. Many schools had signed up to receive seedlings and had plans for student planting events. Our Region 5 forester Christi Barber didn’t let the change of plans stop her though! Christi had arranged for students in the Keene Central School District to receive seedlings for Earth Day and Arbor Day. When spring plans were disrupted by the pandemic, Christi arranged to distribute a seedling to each family with the weekly lunch delivery in mid-May.

Each seedling package included a letter from Christi and her son Charlie (who attends the district) about how to plant the seedlings and explained the importance of trees, while also including links to educational resources on forestry and Arbor Day. They provided surplus seedlings to local post offices for families who wanted more than one. Students and their families planted the trees, and were encouraged to take photos to submit for a photo contest with the school’s "Green Team." Now that school is back in session, the photo contest will be judged and a winner selected.

Photos: Christi and Charlie delivering trees to the school.

Fall ReLeaf Workshops

Many of our fall workshops are going virtual! Check out our upcoming events and find registration links below. More details and up-to-date information are available on our website.

Long Island ReLeaf Workshop and Meeting (in-person) - Wednesday, 10/21 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Join Long Island ReLeaf for a committee meeting and mini-workshop at the Clark Botanic Gardens. The meeting starts at 9 am and is followed by an arboretum tour at 10 a.m., wrapping up at 11 a.m. Registration is required, space is limited, masks required and social distancing will be enforced. Register online. 

Building and Maintaining Your Healthy Community Forest (webinar) - Wednesday, 10/28 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Starting a new program or maintaining a fledgling program to care for your community trees on streets and in parks can be a challenge. Join Southern Adirondack ReLeaf to learn about the steps to becoming a Tree City USA, the benefits of the program, and how to find and apply for funding for your program. The southern Adirondacks has had several notable outbreaks this year of invasive species that threaten trees – including hemlock woolly adelgid and emerald ash borer. Preparing early to manage these threats can be key to keeping your community forest healthy! Registration is free but required in advance; register online.

What We're Reading

• Transplanting and a Deeper Look at "Fall Hazards" - This blog post from the Urban Forestry Council is the organization's most viewed post since its website's inception. Though it was written in 2015, the content is timeless - and particularly timely in these autumn months. Read it on the Council's website.
• New England's Forests Are Sick. They Need More Tree Doctors. - From our neighbors to the east, this NY Times piece on the forests of New England and the threats they face is an important read.
• How to Plant a Tree Successfully - Did you know that fall is an excellent time to plant a tree? This Conservationist article from DEC's own Urban Forestry team gives tips for fall plantings.