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Health & Fitness

Emerald Ash Borer Returns

With warm weather and spring fever, don't forget that the emerald ash borer also returns to Southeast Wisconsin.

In the midst of spring fever and days enjoying warmer weather, most people forget to think about the health of their trees—and if you’re not thinking about them, something else is…

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a threat to more than 727 million ash trees in the state of Wisconsin, that’s nearly seven percent of our tree population. When the borers strike, they disrupt the transmission of nutrients and water, causing most trees to die tree within two to four short years. Left untreated, EAB is 100 percent fatal to ash trees and has killed tens of millions of ash trees across the United States, including Wisconsin.

Stop the spread!

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EAB was accidently imported into the United States in the wood of shipping crates from China. Now, more than 12 counties in southeast Wisconsin are under quarantine in an effort to help slow the spread of EAB and preserve our majestic ash trees. The quarantine prohibits movement of materials such as infested firewood, nursery stock and timber that could spread EAB.

Ash Trees do not have to die as a result of EAB. If you have ash trees, make sure to have them inspected in order to catch any infestations early before the insect does irreversible damage. Treating trees is the most economically effective approach for EAB, rather than tree removal and replacement.

Find out what's happening in Fox Point-Baysidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What does an EAB look like?

  • The EAB is a very small, metallic green beetle about the size of a cooked grain of rice that feeds on tissues beneath the bark of ash trees and kills them.
  • As adults they emerge from under the bark in the spring and create a D-shaped hole.
  • Trees with EAB may show several signs of infestation. One major sign is death of the foliage at the top or crown of the tree. The tree may also produce numerous trunk sprouts. Another sign is vertical bark splits in the tree. Finally, woodpecker feeding usually indicates the tree is infested with insects.

Help keep Wisconsin’s trees healthy this spring by complying with EAB quarantine prohibitions. If you have an ash tree, inspect it early to ensure that the tree is free of infestation. When in doubt, call your local arborist!

For more information on tree care, or if you have specific concerns about your trees, please contact First Choice Tree Care at 262-242-1274 or visit www.firstchoicetreecare.com.

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