Stop: your firewood might be bugged

Transporting firewood can spread mountain pine beetle. Albertans can help prevent the spread of mountain pine beetle by not transporting pine firewood throughout the province or into or from the province of British Columbia.

The province is asking Albertans not to transport pine wood as it may be infested with mountain pine beetle larva. The larva matures under the bark of the wood, emerging as adult beetles once the temperature increases in early summer. Once mature, the adult beetles move on to infest healthy pine trees. An infested tree contains enough insects to attack five to ten more trees.

To minimize the risk of damage to forests by insects or disease, the transport of logs and other forest products cut from coniferous trees is regulated under provincial legislation.

Mountain pine beetles currently pose a significant threat to Alberta’s pine forests. The province has six million hectares of susceptible pine forest at risk of attack by mountain pine beetles. Infestations threaten social, economic, and environmental values, including watershed health, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, community sustainability, and the forest industry.

For more information on the mountain pine beetle please visit: www.srd.alberta.ca/forests/health/pestalerts/mountainpinebeetles.aspx

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