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​of the "Land of Delight"—Leelanau!

By Emily Tyra | Dec. 11, 2020

The NW Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN) is currently working to assemble a list of properties in Leelanau County — as well as in Benzie, Grand Traverse and Manistee  — facing a higher risk of the new invasive species hemlock woolly adelgid.

“It’s an invasive forest pest that was discovered very close to the counties we work in,” Grand Traverse Conservation District Outreach Specialist, Emily Cook tells the Leelanau Ticker. “Our organization, along with regional partners, like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, are doing winter surveys to try and identify if hemlock woolly adelgid has moved even further north. Our goal at this point is to try and get folks aware of the risk and potential impact.”  
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She says most residents of northern Michigan are familiar with emerald ash borer — an invasive insect whose arrival in our state resulted in the widespread die-off of millions of ash trees. “Unfortunately, another invasive species is knocking at our front door, this time targeting a critical habitat species — our hemlocks.”