Forest pests result when non-native insects and diseases are introduced into an ecosystem and lead to environmental or economic damage. So, what does this mean to Yosemite's visitors? People bringing firewood with them can introduce pests accidentally to the park. Park officials, therefore, ask visitors not to transport outside firewood inside the park because pests often survive inside wood where they can’t be seen. (Scroll down to see where visitors are permitted to gather wood in the park.) Currently, 16 pests concern park foresters.

Insects and Diseases that Threaten Yosemite
Agent	Already In	Potential Host
Goldspotted oak borer	Southern Calif.	Oaks
White pine blister rust	Yosemite sugar pines	Western whites, whitebark pines
Mediterranean pine engraver beetle	Fresno, Calif.	Pines
Sudden oak death	Coastal Calif.	Oaks, maples, white firs
Pine pitch canker	Coastal Calif.	Pines
Light brown apple moth	Coastal Calif.	Most trees and shrubs
Red-haired bark beetle	Southern Calif.	Pines
Imported fire ants	Southern Calif.	Ecosystems & people
Dogwood anthracnose	Pacific N.W., East	Native/garden dogwoods
Asian long-horned beetle	Lake States	Willows, aspens, maples, cottonwoods
Emerald ash borer	Lake States	Ash
Oak wilt disease	Midwest to Texas	Black, white, and live oaks
Sirex wood wasp	N.Y., Penn.	Pines
Hemolock wooly adelgid	Eastern States	Mountain helmock
Gypsy moth	Northeast	Oaks, alders, sequoias
Formosan termite	Gult Coast States	Trees, buildings, utility poles, pipelines

Forest pest problems have grown throughout the past 150 years. The latest invader to the wider California region is the goldspotted oak borer found in Southern California's oak trees (but not yet in Yosemite's, luckily). Anecdotal reports suggest the goldenspotted oak borer might have been brought into the state on oak firewood from Mexico during the past decade. Found previously in southeast Arizona, southern Mexico and northern Guatemala, it was collected in 2004 in San Diego County. Confirmed hosts are mature specimens of coast live oak, canyon live oak and California black oak. (See the Forest Service's goldspotted oak borer pest alert [881 kb PDF]). Another recent pest example is a pathogen called sudden oak death—found in coastal California locations. Its presence has lead to a quarantine of firewood and soil materials from the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma. Yosemite officials ask visitors coming from affected counties to adhere to the state- and federal-issued quarantine.

Throughout the United States, virtually all dominant tree species in eastern forests, major species in western forests, and an increasing number of species in subtropical forests are under siege by forest pests. (Worried about nearby emerald ash borer infestations, Shenandoah National Park is banning bringing firewood into the park beginning March 1, 2010.) These forest pests impact urban sites, too, as shown by the destruction of urban trees by Dutch elm disease, gypsy moth, and the light brown apple moth. While Yosemite has been spared from a critical level of infestation of non-native forest pests, park managers must work to prevent an outbreak in the future.

Do Pests Change Ecosystems?

The impact of non-native insects and diseases extends far beyond their effects on the host species they attack. Although damage is inflicted on the host species (like the fungus which causes sudden oak death kills the oak tree), the impact also extends to the associated plants and animals. Some native species depend on a particular tree species or forest type and are threatened with extinction when that tree disappears. The destruction of food-bearing tree species, such as whitebark pine, interrupts food chains and forest energy cycles. The destruction of riparian hardwoods by sudden oak death could increases stream water temperatures and reduces the amount of habitat for native trout. Because forest ecosystems extend below ground level, other damage can occur. In a forest's understory, for example, flowering dogwoods contribute a significant amount of calcium to the soil. Ecological studies have shown that above-ground changes in tree species composition and size affect underground food and energy webs with unknown long-term effects.

How Are Pests Introduced?

Trade and travel, globally and locally, brings increased potential for the introduction of non-native insects and diseases because insects and pathogens “hitchhike” on commercial shipments of goods and plants, and even on packing material. Recent establishments of serious pests in American forests—such as the emerald ash borer, sudden oak death, and koa wilt—were all introduced in this way. Because non-native pests developed elsewhere, they often have no naturally-occurring predators in their new “home.” This can allow them to spread unchecked.

What Is Yosemite National Park Doing about Forest Pests?

It is much easier to prevent the introduction of a forest pest than it is to control an infestation after it has been introduced. Early detection is also important in managing a spread. Park managers are conducting aerial surveys, monitoring traps and forest health, identifying potential for introduction of non-native insects and diseases, and educating the public in order to prevent any introductions from occurring.

How Can Visitors Help Prevent the Spread of Forest Pests?

• Don’t transport firewood outside a 50-mile radius of location of procurement: Forest pests don’t stop at the park border, and they can cause serious problems when they spread to wild areas. Use local firewood, leave unused wood behind when you go home, and burn firewood where you bought it.
• Don’t bring outside plant materials into the park: It might seem attractive to brighten your campsite with a supermarket azalea, or, if you live in the park, to plant a row of rhododendrons from a nursery in front of your cabin. Plants from outside nurseries can bring new insects and diseases into Yosemite.

How Can Visitors Properly Obtain Wood in the Park? 

It's permitted to gather downed wood in the park for personal use. It's prohibited, however, to gather wood in certain areas: in Yosemite Valley, in Sequoia groves, and above 9,600-feet elevation. (Note: Downed wood gathered in park areas outside the prohibited areas is allowed to be brought into the Valley as firewood.) Wood may also be available for sale by the park concessioner.

Campfires and Camping Regulations: Campfires may be built using established fire rings located in developed campgrounds. Campfires in Yosemite Valley are limited to the hours between 5-10 p.m. May 1-Sept. 30 to help protect air quality.

Wood Permits: Permits are available for anyone to collect wood from Yosemite wood lots. Wood lots are located in El Portal, Foresta, Hodgdon Meadows, Wawona and Yosemite Valley. Permits are issued in the El Portal Fiscal Office only (by mail or in person), $10 per cord, 6 cords per year max. Wood is for personal use only—not for sale or exchange. Contact the Fiscal Office at 209/379-1869.

Where to Learn More

• A goldspotted oak borer website, hosted by the University of California's Agriculture and Natural Resources Division, addresses identification of the insect, host trees, impacts, known infestation sites, firewood issues, treatment options, how to report a find, and additional resources.
• Learn more about Yosemite's native insect populations. And, learn more about another invasive animal—the New Zealand mud snail—that has infested several California rivers outside the park.