The presence of the invasive balsam woolly adelgid that is known for fatally harming fir trees has been confirmed by state environmental officials in northern Michigan's Roscommon County.
The insects infest fir trees and suck out their nutrients, leaving the trees to rot or die. It's known for leaving distinctive white tufts on branches and tree trunks. They also kill branches and distort twigs and crowns.
They are also known to infect balsam trees and Fraser and concolor firs, the latter two are often harvested and used as Christmas trees.
“Signs of a potential infestation were noted by a DNR forest technician in early March,” a spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy wrote in a press release. Federal officials verified the infection in late March.
Joanne Foreman with the Department of Natural Resources says removing the virus will be time-consuming and costly.
"What we've been doing in the infested locations is removing the trees... and the trees surrounding them," she said.
Foreman says that people have gotten better at detecting them. Still, she says it isn’t clear how this infestation in a “natural area,” started.
“We haven't exactly identified like an origin point or how it's moving. Although we do know it can move on birds, it can move on animals, it can move on humans," Foreman said.
There are two other known outbreaks of balsam woolly adelgid in the region.
One is on a tree farm in Oceana County, the other is spread along public and private lands between Missaukee and Clare counties.
Foreman added that officials are still in the “early stages” of understanding the movement of the insect and that it will take time to measure the success of mitigation efforts.
Environmental officials say reporting infestations, and buying local, heat-treated firewood can help stop the balsam woolly adelgid from spreading.
“Always buy it as close as possible to where you are staying,” Foreman said.
Official are also recommending people clean their vehicles and clothes after visiting forests and trails.
