Does your town have a First Detector? If not, recruit someone from your community to attend an upcoming training.
The Forest Pest First Detector Program trains citizen-scientists to help prepare Vermont for the arrival of invasive forest pests such as the Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Longhorned Beetle.
First Detectors serve as a liaison between their community and federal and state partners by helping with education and outreach, volunteer recruitment, pest screening, and preparing their community for a pest infestation.
Last year, the program trained 93 volunteers across the state from Newport to Bennington. The next in-person trainings will be held on the following dates:
• Saturday, May 18 (rain date May 19) 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., NorthWoods Stewardship Center, Charleston.
• Saturday, June 8 (rain date June 9), 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m, Merck Forest and Farmland, Rupert.