Transport Zero – Terrestrial

The Problem

Land-based invaders have negatively impacted the forests and fields of Illinois. Invasive insects such as the emerald ash borer have killed millions of trees in forests and urban areas in the U.S. Invasive plants such as buckthorn and garlic mustard have taken over entire acres once inhabited by native ones. However, new invasions can be prevented and the spread of established invaders can be halted.

The key to halting invasions is preventing the accidental movement of invasive species when we're transporting our equipment and natural materials. Equipment such as boots, tents, lawn furniture, and campers can move adult insects and egg masses from one place to another. Natural materials such as firewood, foraged plants, foraged food, and decorative items can also spread insects and insect eggs as well as bacteria and viruses.

Evidence of an emerald ash borer infestation under the bark of an ash tree. (Photo Credit: Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org)

Gypsy moth can damage whole swaths of forest. (Photo Credit: Mark Robinson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org)

Tree damage from goldspotted oak borer larvae. (Photo Credit: Tom Coleman, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org)

Garlic mustard carpets the understory of a floodplain forest. (Photo Credit: Victoria Nuzzo, Natural Area Consultants, Bugwood.org)

Roadways can be crowded by invaders such as multiflora rose. (Photo Credit: Randy Westbrooks, Invasive Plant Control, Inc., Bugwood.org)

Canada thistle can invade crop fields, causing economic harm (Photo Credit: Bonsak Hammeraas, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Bugwood.org)

You can help

Avoid the introduction and spread of terrestrial invaders by following these few simple steps:

CLEAN

off shoes, clothes, animals, and gear.
Keep seeds, plant fragments, or insects from hitching a ride with you.

BURN

only local firewood.
Firewood can spread invasive insects and disease, which kill millions of trees per year.

LEAVE

plants and other natural materials in their place.
Transporting plants and other materials can spread hitchhiking seeds, roots, insects, insect eggs, fungi, bacteria, etc. from one area to another.

Report New Sightings

Early detection of new populations is critical in controlling the spread of terrestrial invaders from one area to another. Report new sightings of terrestrial invaders here.

STATE ADVISORY

The Illinois Department of Agriculture strongly recommends that firewood be produced, distributed, sold, and burned locally. This recommendation is to help prevent movement of invasive viruses, fungi and insects such as the emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, goldspotted oak borer, and gypsy moth from place to place with firewood.

Contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture for more information and tips for buying and burning firewood responsibly.

Take the pledge

Join the fight! Take the pledge to help stop the spread of terrestrial invaders in Illinois. Check the boxes in the form below and press submit to take the pledge.

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Resources

Handouts, flyers, and other outreach tools for farmers, landowners, and outdoor enthusiasts are available for from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Information Service (APHIS).