Posted: 05.18.2011
Gov. Scott Walker has announced that Wisconsin will observe Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week, May 22-28, 2011. Through a proclamation, Gov. Walker urged state residents and visitors to become better educated about emerald ash borer (EAB) and to take action to help slow the spread of this ash-killing pest.
“Protecting Wisconsin’s ash trees against EAB is something we can all do by educating ourselves and taking steps to help slow the spread of this tree-killing beetle across the state,” said Gov. Walker. “Ash trees in our yards, parks, and forests improve the quality of life in our state and are worth protecting.”
Since 2008, EAB infestations have been located in the Village of Newburg (Ozaukee/Washington Counties), Victory (Vernon/Crawford Counties), and in Cudahy, Franklin, and Oak Creek (Milwaukee County). Adult beetles have also been found in Green Bay and Kenosha.
To help recognize EAB Awareness Week, the state’s multi-agency EAB Program will begin airing commercials on television and radio, urging residents and visitors alike to be careful about moving potentially infested firewood.
Short videos that illustrate some of the basic facts about EAB and ash trees will also be posted the Program’s Web site and will be available through “on-demand video” features on cable TV throughout much of the state.
Residents and visitors to Wisconsin can help slow the spread of EAB and learn more about the pest in a few ways:
- Follow all quarantine guidelines. For most people, that means not moving firewood out of these counties: Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Brown, Vernon, and Crawford.
- If camping, buy your firewood at your destination instead of transporting it over long distances. Consider buying your firewood from a state-certified firewood vendor. The list of current vendors can be found on the EAB Program Web site.
- Learn about the signs and symptoms of EAB infestation. This information can be found at the EAB Web site at www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov.
- Report ash trees that show signs of infestation by calling the EAB hotline toll-free at 1-800-462-2803. Callers may also request that information be mailed to them if they don’t have access to a computer.
The beetle attacks all species of North American ash trees. In Wisconsin, ash species comprise an average of 20 percent of municipal trees and number approximately 765 million in the state’s forested areas. The EAB larvae kill ash trees by destroying the soft layer of wood just under the bark that moves water and nutrients throughout the tree.
Emerald ash borer is native to Asia. It was discovered near Detroit in 2002. Since then, it has spread to 15 states and two Canadian provinces, primarily through infested firewood. The beetle has killed millions of trees.
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