For all lovers of Michigan’s forests, wildlife enthusiasts, and those looking to do their part in protecting it, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is holding a “NotMISpecies” webinar on Wednesday, Apr. 30th from 9 a .m. to 10 a.m. This session will educate viewers on the emerging threat of invasive species and their relationship with climate change, and how individuals can help protect their local forestsThe webinar will feature guests from the Department of Natural Resources, entomologist Erin Biggs and forest pathologist Simeon Wright. The two will do a deep dive into current invasive threats to native species and how climate change leads to further stress on Michigan Forests. Although diseases caused by invasives like hemlock woolly adelgid, beech bark, and beech leaf disease have been around and managed for years, rampant climate change in the past year is raising ecologists’ concern for our beloved Michigan forests.
One species of high concern, the hemlock woolly adelgid, is a beetle native to Asia that threatens eastern hemlock trees. The beetle feeds by extracting sap from the needles, killing them off, causing tree death. Although the disease has not yet spread to the Upper Peninsula, it is quickly taking over counties in the Lower Peninsula. It is important to spot the signs of this disease at the start as early detection is essential to preventing further spread.
The webinar will focus on current invasives of concern and how to identify and alert them if you spot them in MI forests, as well as how to control them if they are present in their own backyard.
For more information on MI invasive species and how to help, visit
michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/watchlist and to sign up for the webinar go to Michigan.gov/egle/outreach//webinar-series/notmispecies.
