Campers on the Move Provide Insight into Risks of Pest Invasion
Researchers concerned about invasive pests know that humans often play a role in helping insects spread. Transporting firewood from home to burn at a faraway campsite is one such way that people can unknowingly introduce non-native insects into a new environment where they could damage or destroy forest resources. Now, researchers have a better understanding of the origins and destinations of potentially infested firewood. Center research ecologist Frank Koch and partners used more than seven million federal campground reservations to model campers' travel patterns. As part of a recently published study, the researchers produced maps highlighting the riskiest areas in the lower 48 United States and seven Canadian provinces--those most likely to provide a source of insect-infested firewood. This information can help decision makers develop strategies for preventing the movement and spread of invasive insects via firewood bound for a recreational campfire. Read more in CompassLive...
