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Source firewood locally to protect ash trees

Using locally sourced firewood is the one of the best things North Dakotans can do to prevent the spread of invasive tree insects, like emerald ash borer, according to the North Dakota Forest Service. The Forest Service is advising everyone to “buy it where you burn it” when it comes to firewood this summer.

Native to Asia, the emerald ash borer attacks true ash trees. The insect has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in the United States over the past decade. It has since spread to 36 states, with the closest discoveries to North Dakota coming in Moorhead, Minnesota.

North Dakota has more than 95 million ash trees. Tree inventories in North Dakota communities show that ash trees make up between 20-80% of all trees along streets and in city parks. They are also found in rural plantings, windbreaks and native forest areas.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to buy or gather firewood near the place it will be burned or use certified, heat-treated firewood. A firewood finder can be found at firewoodscout.org.

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