Moving Wood as a Pathway
Diseases and insects that are deadly to trees and forests in Ontario can be transported on firewood. Wooden shipping pallets are used to package and support shipments of goods from overseas. The wood that is used in the pallets may come from trees in Asia, Europe, or South America. Although the wood in these pallets can be treated, shipping pallets and other wooden packaging materials have the potential to carry exotic invasive pathogens and insect pests that can kill trees in North America. This is how Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Long-horned Beetles arrived in Ontario.
What You Can Do
- Learn to identify invasive species that are a threat to Ontario.
- Buy and burn local firewood when visiting campgrounds, travelling to you cottage or hunt camp, and visiting natural areas.
- If you think you’ve seen an invasive species in the wild, please contact the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711, or visit www.EDDMapS.org to report a sighting.
Take Action!
OFAH/OMNRF Invading Species Awareness Program. (2021). Pathways – Movement of Wood. Retrieved from: www.invadingspecies.com.
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Think you have seen an invasive species?
Report it!
Invading Species Hotline
1-800-563-7711
