NH Forest Officials Find Invasive Beetle In 5-Percent Of Concord Trees
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire forest officials say an invasive beetle that destroys ash trees has been found in about 5 percent of trees surveyed in central Concord.
Officials discovered the beetle earlier this year in Concord and Bow. Agencies have been testing ash trees within a six-mile radius.
Gov. Maggie Hassan has declared this Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week. The state has put a permanent quarantine in place since the insect was detected earlier this year. No ash materials can be moved out of Merrimack County and other materials are subject to regulation, such as ash hardwood firewood, lumber, and woodchips.
Also still in effect is a 2-year-old firewood quarantine intended to help prevent the arrival of more emerald ash borers or other damaging insects by prohibiting uncertified firewood from entering the state
Forest rangers will conduct inspections at various locations on Friday, looking for out-of-state firewood and firewood from Merrimack County.
"Memorial Day weekend is the start of our summer camping season and we want to remind our in-state and out-of-state campers we have a firewood quarantine," State Forester Brad Simpkin said.
New Hampshire is the 19th state in which the emerald ash borer has been detected.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
