HWA spreads naturally via wind, birds, and mammals, but also by humans through movement of wood products and on our clothing/footwear. To help reduce further spread of HWA, we encourage our supporters to adhere to some biological control practices when visiting Nature Trust properties with hemlock forests (if you know or suspect that HWA is present):

• Do not collect and move hemlock foliage/wood products
• Use a lint roller to remove potential crawlers from clothing, shoes, and backpacks
• Do not bring your pet into infested stands
• Launder all clothing prior to re-entering the field
• If possible, avoid visiting hemlock stands in other, uninfested areas for several days

HWA eggs hatch into nymphs known as “crawlers”, which is HWA’s only mobile phase. Crawlers can be easily spread and cause new areas of HWA infestation. If you are in a hemlock forest from early April to late August, please take extra care to follow the biological control practices listed above.

Do not collect branch samples or specimens; please take a photograph instead. It is best to photograph the underside of the hemlock branch where the woolly egg sacs are more visible. This can help better gauge HWA infestation level.

Record your location using GPS or mobile device.

Report your sighting on iNaturalist. Observation of HWA are tracked by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

If you don’t use iNaturalist, you can also report your sighting to Ron Neville with the CFIA.

If the sighting is on Nature Trust Lands, please also send picture and location pin to riki.kerbrat@nsnt.ca.