Illinois is joining several Midwest states in lifting an internal quarantine of the Emerald Ash Borer. It is an invasive beetle native to Asia that has been destroying ash trees around the state.
Restriction of firewood movement helped contain the pest, but the number of affected Illinois counties still increased.
Scott Schirmer is the Plant and Pesticide Specialist Supervisor for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. He says discovery of the beetle in 10 new counties led to the decision.
“It seems like there is an influx or an explosion of populations, which is indicating that it’s spreading. So, it’s become very difficult to justify maintaining a quarantine, or maintaining regulations because the bug is so widespread now.”
Schirmer does not envision much change now that the quarantine has been lifted.
Illinois residents are now able to freely transport firewood within the state.
Despite the quarantine being dropped in Illinois, Schirmer says the community can prevent further infestation.
“Buy something locally—you use it up locally. There’s no risk of introducing it. You’re not taking anything back home with you. So, burn it where you buy it is another way to put it. That kind of general perspective is that if you don’t have to move something, then there’s going to be absolutely no associated risk with introducing something somewhere else.”
