04-25-2007
DATCP Secretary Urges Wisconsin Residents to Burn Purchased Firewood that May Contain Destructive Emerald Ash Borer

Mick Skwarok's cell: (608) 219-1492

MADISON--Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture Rod Nilsestuen today asked Wisconsinites who have purchased Taylors Wood Products, Inc. firewood from a statewide home improvement store to burn the firewood as soon as possible as it may contain the ash-killing emerald ash borer.

The firewood -- distributed by an Illinois company -- was not properly treated to eliminate the risk of transporting emerald ash borer.

"Emerald ash borer is an expert hitchhiker in firewood and could devastate Wisconsin's ash resources in both our forests and urban areas," Nilsestuen said. "By burning any Taylors brand firewood purchased at Menards as quickly as possible, Wisconsin residents can help slow the spread of this killer beetle and its possible introduction into the state."

On Tuesday, April 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued an Emergency Action Notice to Menards to remove all Taylors Wood Products Inc. firewood from the sales area. A national recall on all Taylors wood is also in effect.

However, since most of the wood recalled has already been sold, the recall from store shelves is not completely effective. Because of this, Nilsestuen is requesting that the firewood be burned immediately in an effort to help eliminate the chance of spreading EAB into Wisconsin.

"While EAB has not been detected in Wisconsin, we need to do everything we can to not help it get here," Nilsestuen said. "Where the beetle is located, it's about to start emerging from ash trees or ash firewood. People who bought this product should make every effort to use the firewood by May 1, 2007. If the wood is infested, burning it will kill the beetle inside."

Emerald ash borer was first identified in 2002 in Michigan and is responsible for the demise of nearly 25 million ash trees in North America. The EAB larvae feed just under the bark of ash trees, preventing the flow of water and nutrients in the tree. Unlike other native wood boring beetles, EAB attacks perfectly healthy ash trees, not just stressed trees.

A federal quarantine on hardwood firewood and a variety of ash products has been in place in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and lower Michigan since last December. Some firewood distributed by Taylors Wood Products, Inc. and sold at Menards stores did not meet certain requirements in order to be moved out of Illinois.

Wisconsin has approximately 717 million ash trees in forest settings. It's estimated that ash species comprise about 20-percent of all street trees in the state.

Information about emerald ash borer and the problems associated with transporting pests and diseases in firewood can be found at the Wisconsin Emerald Ash Borer Web site.

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