Upcoming forest pest training session

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Forest Pest Survey Outreach and Survey Project are partnering with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis County Office to bring a unique training opportunity to Piscataquis County. People — both urban and rural — are invited to participate in this free training to learn how to identify major forest pests that pose serious threats to the Maine forest and survey for their presence in the field.

    The training session will focus on teaching people who work with trees and those who enjoy the outdoors to recognize signs of the presence of these specific pests: Emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, Brown spruce longhorned beetle and Hemlock woolly adelgid, their host trees, how to survey for them and how to report suspicious areas.
    Participants will also learn how to effectively disseminate information to the public to help spread awareness. Early detection is critical and we have a much better chance of slowing down the spread of an infestation that will destroy our parks, backyards and woodland trees.
    Forest Pest Outreach and Survey Project will provide materials for volunteers, loans of insects and sample tree damage displays for this outreach. Pesticide Applicator’s and Licensed Forester’s credits may be applied.
    The training session on Saturday, Feb. 8 (snow date is Feb. 15) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be held at University of Maine Cooperative Extension of Piscataquis County’s office, 165 East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft.
    For registration to this training, e-mail the following information to Lorraine Taft lorraine.taft@gmail.com or call 832-6241: name, phone number, e-mail address, affiliation (organization or employer) or register with Ana Bonstedt at the UMaine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis Office at ana.bonsted@maine.edu, 564-3301 or (in Maine toll-free) at 1-800-287-1491.