BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Jack Dalrymple has proclaimed May 22-28, 2016 as Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week in North Dakota.
Native to Asia, the emerald ash borer (EAB) only attacks true ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). The larvae feed under the bark, disrupting the movement of water and nutrients and killing the tree within several years. EAB has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in the United States over the past decade.
“EAB is now found in 26 states, including our neighbor, Minnesota,” said North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “Given the traffic between our two states, it is more important than ever for North Dakotans to take action to prevent it from coming here.”
North Dakota has approximately 78 million ash trees and ash is one of the primary tree species in many communities as well as in rural plantings and native forest areas.
“EAB spreads slowly on its own, but it can be moved long distances in firewood and ash nursery stock,” State Forester Larry Kotchman said. “Please buy your firewood from local sources, and if you are coming from out of the state, please don’t bring firewood with you.”
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Moving uncertified firewood out of the areas under quarantine for EAB is a federal offense. Twelve counties in Minnesota as well as Park Point in Duluth are currently under quarantine.
City forestry departments, local tree boards, NDSU extension personnel and other volunteers will tie ribbons along with informational flyers on publicly owned ash trees in over 25 North Dakota towns and cities. State parks will also participate. The event is organized by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the North Dakota Forest Service (NDFS) and the North Dakota State University Extension Service.
In 2016, a company contracted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as city foresters will place about 500 EAB traps in cities, state parks, recreation areas, campgrounds, rest stops, county fairgrounds and other areas of high risk.
The two-foot-long, three-sided, purple traps are baited with a lure attractive to emerald ash borers. The traps will be monitored through the summer during the adult flight period.
Goehring and Kotchman asked that people encountering one of these traps to please leave it undisturbed.
The survey is part of nationwide effort involving 32 states.
More information about EAB is available on the NDDA website at www.nd.gov/ndda or www.ndinvasives.org .
