Backyard

So many empty Worcester-area traps 'a good sign' in beetle battle

    WORCESTER - Good news on the Asian longhorned beetle front: Surveys of traps hung across Worcester County this summer have turned up only one of the pests in the city, where an infestation of the tree-killing insects was centered, and none in the region beyond.

    This suggests that efforts to stop the spread of the beetle are paying off, according to...

USDA Asks People to Check Their Trees for Signs of the Asian Longhorned Beetle During the Month of August

Washington, Aug. 3, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announces August is Tree Check Month and urges people to check trees for signs of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). August is a time of peak emergence for the beetle and is most likely when the adult beetle can be seen infesting trees.

Out-of-State Firewood Now Banned in Rhode Island

If you plan on stacking up some firewood for camping and the backyard fire pit, or simply stocking up before the winter, don’t plan on buying any non-local logs.

You can blame the Asian Longhorned Beetle and the Emerald Ash Borer for a ban on out-of-state firewood and a prohibition on the transport of wood from the neighboring states of Massachusetts and Connecticut across borders...

New forest guidebook focuses on preparing for climate disruptions

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has released a guidebook on preparing for the disturbances to our forests caused by climate change, including invasive plants.

News article:

"Vermont leads the nation in promoting climate-smart natural resource management strategies. This first ever state-developed guidebook presents land managers with a menu of strategies to adjust to climate...

Choose native plants for gardens

By Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Spring has finally arrived in Vermont, and gardeners and landscapers are eagerly breaking out their shovels in anticipation of the year’s spring plantings.

Beyond the beauty new gardens provide, landscapers can make a big difference for wildlife with the plants they choose, according to Vermont Fish & Wildlife biologist Jon Kart.

With Start Of Camping Season, Firewood Quarantine In Effect For New Hampshire

As the Memorial Day holiday weekend kicks off the summer camping season, New Hampshire authorities are reminding people it's illegal to bring untreated firewood into the state without a written agreement from them. 

It's also illegal to transport hardwood firewood outside of Rockingham, Merrimack and Hillsborough counties to prevent the spread of emerald ash borer, a...

Sinclair: Go local for firewood

The locavore movement in Vermont is strong, whether vegetables, meat, craft beer or goods and services. I am here to promote the same approach in the purchase and burning of firewood. Why is this important?

Transported firewood is a major vehicle of invasive pests such as the emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle. These pests are a grave threat to our forests. Over half of...