Doyle Urges People Not To Move Firewood

MADISON, Wis. -- With the tree-killing emerald ash borer on the loose in Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle is urging residents not to transport firewood.

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Doyle said Wednesday that taking that step will help slow the spread of the insect recently found in Ozaukee County.

He said it's very important to quarantine areas where the ash borer is found to help slow its spread. Doyle said a large part of successfully fighting the insect is educating the public about what steps to take.

He said the state will do everything it can to fight the ash borer's spread.

The emerald ash borer is a metallic-green insect about a half-inch long. It burrows into ash trees' bark and lays eggs. The larvae chew their way through fluid-conducting vessels in the three, cutting off nutrients.

The emerald ash borer doesn't travel very far on its own and they often hitch a ride when people travel.

Because of that, many campgrounds are prohibiting visitors from bringing their own firewood and provide local firewood on site.

The infestation in Ozaukee County may have started years ago, so officials are keeping an eye out for more.

State workers plan to begin surveys of southeastern Wisconsin trees late this week to determine how far the emerald ash borer might have spread.

State officials said they will ban movement of hardwood firewood, ash nursery stock, timber and anything else that could transport the insect out of the infested area. More than 740 million trees in Wisconsin are at risk.

"There is the possibility that there are other infestations in the state," said Becky Gray of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. "We're hoping to find those as quickly as possible, but the most important thing is for people not to continue to spread the insect to new places."

Ash trees and ash wood will be quarantined in Ozaukee and Washington counties starting Thursday.