The New York State Hemlock Initiative’s mission is to coordinate state-wide efforts of land owners,
state and federal agencies, government officials, and concerned citizens to conserve New York State’s
hemlock trees, with our focus on the invasive forest pest the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). One of
our biggest challenges is locating hemlock stands and HWA throughout the state. You can help us by
being our eyes in the field. Visit us at www.nyshemlockinitiative.info to learn more.

Volunteer Opportunity: Hemlock and HWA Hunters
Help us find hemlock trees:
Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is an evergreen species found throughout New
York. Hemlocks have short, flat needles with white stripes on the underside, reddishgrey, scaly, fissured bark, and can grow up to 100ft (30m) tall. It is common to find
them in shady areas and along stream corridors. For us to adequately assess the threat
of HWA, it is important for us to understand where New York’s hemlock resources are.
You can help us by reporting where you find dense stands of hemlocks, infested or not.

Help us find hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA):
To understand the spread of HWA and know what areas may be at risk, we want to
know where infestations are located. When you are out in the field, hiking, boating, or
even just enjoying your own back yard, you can help us locate infestations. HWA is a
small aphid-like insect that kills hemlock trees. It appears as small, white, cottony balls
on the twigs of hemlocks, most apparent from late fall into early summer. In the
summer, HWA looks like tiny black dots on twigs at the base of needles.

Reporting Protocol: HWA and x-HWA
There are several ways that you can report
hemlock and HWA findings:
1. Call the DEC’s forest pest information line at 1-866-640-0652.
2. Use the iMapInvasives reporting app or website:
Visit nyimapinvasives.org and follow the instructions to create a username and password. Download the
iMapInvasives app from the App Store, the Google Play store, or nyimapinvasives.org/mobile. You may use your
iMapInvasives account on your smartphone or computer to mark both HWA sightings (HWA) or hemlock trees with no
infestation (x-HWA).
3. Send us an email or letter with a photo of the infestation and GPS coordinates (if
possible) or a detailed description of the location. Our email address is
info@nyshemlockinitiative.info and our mailing address is NYS Hemlock Initiative,
111 Fernow Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14850.
NOTE: Infested trees can also be seen by boat! If you are out on your favorite lake
or river, inspect hemlocks on the shore. Infested, dying trees will appear greyish from
the shore instead of a healthy dark green. If you see this, investigate and report your
findings to us!

 Where is HWA in New York?
The NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation
(DEC) reports on HWA findings throughout New
York State. The current extent can be seen on the
map to the right. The infestation in New York
State began in the late 1980s in the Lower
Hudson Valley and Long Island area. The
infestation continued into the Catskills and Finger
Lakes in the 1990s and 2000s. In the summer of
2017, HWA reached the Adirondacks. We must
remain vigilant to detect new infestations as
they arise. With your help, we can slow the
spread of HWA and further understand how to
conserve New York’s hemlocks.

Know Your PRISM: Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP)
PRISM stands for Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management. New York
has eight PRISM regions, each made up of conservation organizations concerned with
invasive species detection and management at the local, regional, and state level.
The Adirondacks have the highest concentration of hemlock trees in New York State. HWA is a
new invasive species to the region, with the first and only infestation discovered on just three
trees near Lake George in the summer of 2017. The infestation and a buffer zone were treated
in the fall of 2017 to eradicate the HWA population. The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) is currently
focused on surveillance, early detection, and rapid response to new HWA infestations. It is critically important to
report any HWA sightings so that APIPP can treat infestations while they are still small and contained. If you see HWA
in the Adirondack region, please report your findings!

Getting Involved in Your Region
Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP)
Website: www.adkinvasives.com
Adirondack Mountain Club
Website: www.adk.org
NYS Hemlock Initiative
Website: www.nyshemlockinitiative.info
Regional Cornell Cooperative Extension County
Offices:
Clinton – (518) 561-7450   Essex – (518) 962-4810   Franklin – (518) 483-7403   Hamilton – (518) 548-6191  
Herkimer – (315) 866-7920   St. Lawrence – (315) 379-9192   Warren – (518) 623-3291