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Parks Canada has confirmed the presence of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) in Rouge National Urban Park. Hemlock woolly adelgid is an invasive insect that feeds on sap at the base of hemlock needles, leading to needle loss, branch dieback and eventual tree death.

Parks Canada is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and the City of Toronto to monitor the infestation, map affected areas and explore options to slow the spread.

To limit the spread, visitors should:

• stay on designated trails
• respect closures and follow all posted restrictions and biosecurity guidelines
• avoid brushing against or touching hemlock trees, or moving downed woody debris from hemlock trees
• keep pets on a leash and out of infested areas
• clean boots, clothing and gear after visiting hemlock forests, or when moving from one forest to another
• refrain from moving wood and plant materials in the park
• add observations to the iNaturalist invasive species project
• report infected plants or suspected pests to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Stop the spread and help keep invasive species out of Canada

Learn more from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fact Sheet.