SLELO Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management

05/21/2026

From crisis to opportunity. Learn how loosing ash trees to emerald ash borer became a chance to build a stronger, more diverse urban forest!

Tune in for the final week webinar today at 1 PM EST with Don't Move Firewood. 👉dontmovefirewood.org/eabweek2026

05/20/2026

Celebrate ash trees this . Ash trees do more for our forests than you think. 🌳They are ecological powerhouses that provide many benefits for nature and people including:

Wildlife Habitat — Ash canopies shelter birds, while their seeds feed finches, grosbeaks, small mammals, and more.

Soil & Water Benefits — Their root systems stabilize streambanks, reduce erosion, and help regulate water flow.

Biodiversity Support — Ash contributes to forest diversity, which increases resilience against storms, pests, and climate stress.

Cultural & Economic Value — Black ash is central to traditional basket‑making and holds high cultural value to indigenous groups; white ash is prized for baseball bats, tool handles, and furniture.

Urban Benefits — Ash trees tolerate road salt and compacted soils, making them valuable street and park trees.

Click the link to watch a stunning year‑in‑the‑life timelapse created by the Woodland Trust — a reminder of just how much these trees give us.
https://youtu.be/Z0JdCENAXeQ?si=PxEPcnlBNawvuJqd

05/19/2026

See something strange on your ash tree?

Spotting emerald ash borer (EAB) early can make the difference between saving an ash tree and losing it. When EAB is caught in its early stages, treatments are far more effective, and communities can remove or protect trees before the beetle spreads further. Learn the key signs of EAB infestation to protect local forests.

How to Identify EAB & Infestation Signs

✅Metallic green adults — about ½ inch long, bullet‑shaped
✅Crown dieback — thinning leaves starting at the top
✅Epicormic shoots — new sprouts along the trunk as the tree struggles to survive
✅Woodpecker activity — increased bark flecking from birds feeding on larvae
✅S‑shaped larval galleries — winding tunnels under the bark
✅D‑shaped exit holes — a classic sign left when adults emerge

Don't Move Firewood

05/18/2026

Calling all artists! Oneida County Soil and Water Conservation District is inviting you to create artwork for their Invasive Species Art Exhibit! See their post for more details!

Each year, we try to bring awareness to invasive species threatening New York State.

We are currently asking for submissions to our invasive species art exhibit. Anyone of any age is welcome to submit their original artwork depicting invasive species. We ask that no invasive species parts be used. Artwork should be submitted by June 5th to our office at 121 Second St. Oriskany, NY or at the Oneida County Public Market on June 6th.

This year, New York Invasive Species Awareness Week is June 8th through 14th. The artwork will be displayed at the Oneida County Public Market through the rest of June, and then on to the Oneida County Fair July 28 - August 2nd.

Please see our website for more details. https://www.oneida-swcd.org/education

05/18/2026

🌳 It’s Week — observed through May 23rd!

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a small metallic‑green beetle that has a big impact. Its larvae tunnel beneath the bark of ash trees, cutting off the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. Once infested, most ash trees die within just a few years. Ash trees are an important ecological and cultural species.

🎤 Webinar Series This Week
The Don't Move Firewood team is hosting a special webinar series in observance of EAB Awareness Week—an excellent chance to learn from experts and get the latest guidance on protecting ash trees.

👉Visit dontmovefirewood.org/eabweek2026 to attend

05/17/2026

Behind the Scenes: Raising Nature’s Tiny Heroes 🔬

A new study from the New York State Hemlock Initiative highlights major progress in rearing specialist predators that help control hemlock woolly adelgid — including silver flies and lady beetle species. 🪰🪲

Through innovative “composite rearing” methods, researchers can now reliably produce predators at the right time of year to support field releases. This work strengthens long-term hemlock conservation across the region. Science + teamwork = hope for our hemlocks.🌲

👉Hear directly from experts at the to learn more about this research in article #10 of our spring newsletter, https://rebrand.ly/SLELOLinkGallery.

05/16/2026

🍄 From Tennessee Trails to New York Forests 🌳
We’re shining a light on a volunteer whose journey reminds us why community science matters. After moving from Appalachian Tennessee to Oneida County, NY, Hope found connection and belonging through nature and soon discovered SLELO PRISM!

Since joining our volunteer network, Hope has completed early detection training, joined surveys, and participated in habitat restoration! She says that "volunteering is her way of showing gratitude towards the land that has done so much for her."
Their passion for learning and giving back is a powerful reminder that when you volunteer, you’re not just protecting ecosystems, you’re deepening your connection to the land.

👉Read article #2 in our LINK GALLERY to hear directly from Hope in our latest newsletter https://rebrand.ly/SLELOLinkGallery

05/15/2026

💧Giving Rivers a Voice 🌬️

A new non-profit, Talking Rivers, is reshaping how we relate to the natural world by advocating for the legal rights of rivers and other “more-than-human” beings.

From legal innovation, to protecting the American eel, to storytelling through the Eyes of Rivers project, they’re blending science, culture, and community action to protect our watersheds. 🌊

You can support this movement by signing Talking River's American Eel Resolution or joining their upcoming storytelling circles. Together, we can honor the waters that sustain us.

👉Hear directly from Talking Rivers to learn more about thier work and to get involved in article #8 of our spring newsletter, https://rebrand.ly/SLELOLinkGallery.

05/14/2026

🔍iNaturalist → iMap: Make Your Observations Count!🌿

Did you know your iNaturalist.org invasive species observations can automatically transfer into NY iMapInvasives? Observations in these platforms help professionals map invasive species and guide management decisions statewide.

To ensure your iNaturalist data transfers it must meet three criteria:
✔️ The species is tracked in iMap
✔️ The record reaches a Research Grade level
✔️ Your licensing settings allow data sharing

Want instant visibility for your invasive species records? Report directly to iMap, but keep sharing on iNaturalist too! 📸🌱

👉Hear directly from the NY iMapInvasives team on this topic in article #7 of our spring newsletter, https://rebrand.ly/SLELOLinkGallery.

05/13/2026

🐞 SLF Populations Are Growing — Stay Vigilant! 🚨🍇
Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, SLF) continues to spread across NY, now confirmed in 30 counties and moving closer to our region. While not here yet, populations are expanding near Syracuse.

If you spot SLF, report it to iMapInvasives reportslf.com. 📸

SLF love tree-of-heaven (invasive), orchard and vineyard plants, maples, willows, and walnut — but not conifers. Native predators and new biocontrol research offer hope, including a promising parasitoid wasp now under USDA review, and studies of how native milkweed plants could be used as a management tool.

Stay alert, and help protect our forests and vineyards! 🍇🌳

👉Hear from experts at Cornell Integrated Pest Management in article #6 of our spring newsletter, https://rebrand.ly/SLELOLinkGallery.