LGHC asking public to help track the hemlock woolly adelgid

LAKE GEORGE | In an effort to better track the presence of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) in the Lake George watershed, the Lake George Hemlock Coalition (LGHC) has made it easier for volunteers to report the forest pest. The LGHC is asking all hunters, hikers, birders and other outdoor lovers in the Lake George watershed to help look for and report HWA. HWA is an invasive insect that is becoming widespread in the southeastern Adirondacks. The adelgids attach themselves to twigs at the base of needles, where they feed on the tree's nutrients and lay eggs in white, wool-like ovisacs. The feeding stresses the tree, eventually causing the death of new shoots, and if left untreated, it can weaken and potentially kill the tree. The woolly ovisacs are visible from fall through winter, making that an ideal time to search for and report the insect's presence. And that's where community scientist volunteers come in. The LGHC has an action plan to protect priority hemlock areas, but help is needed spotting HWA in the Lake George region so areas where HWA is found can be evaluated. To simplify this effort, the LGHC collaborated with Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) staff to create educational resources and a new method of reporting HWA. With the quick scan of a QR code, volunteers are brought to an interactive webpage, where they can use a form to report the presence of HWA and view images of HWA and its native lookalikes, which include spider eggs and spittlebug spittle. By making the identification and reporting of HWA simple, LGHC and APIPP staff are hoping to increase volunteer participation and gain a thorough understanding of where HWA is located in the Lake George region. "Reporting HWA is an easy, impactful task that anyone can do while they are out enjoying the beauty of the Adirondacks this fall or winter," said APIPP Program Director Brian Greene. "It's never been easier to report an invasive species, and the information collected will be invaluable as management strategies are discussed and implemented." Interested volunteers are asked to monitor for and report HWA through March 2026. Volunteers can learn more and access the QR code by visiting adkinvasives.com/GetInvolved/Working-groups/Lake-George-Hemlock-Coalition. The Lake George Hemlock Coalition is a collection of partners jointly working together to protect hemlocks in the Lake George watershed. The partners include APIPP, East Shore Schroon Lake Association, Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board, Lake George Association, Lake George Land Conservancy, Lake George Park Commission, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Hemlock Initiative of Cornell University, Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District.

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LGHC asking public to help track the hemlock woolly adelgid

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