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Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been officially found in Montpelier, close to the center of the city! Parks and Trees staff are working with Montpelier Treeboard members as well as with State Urban and Forestry staff, to transition from our preparedness plan to fine tuning our EAB management plan. Residents concerned about EAB can do several things. There is no need to panic. However, thoughtful action can reduce hazards and the amount of money it takes to address related hazards.
EAB UPDATE
As of March, 2022 the Emerald Ash Borer has been detected in three areas in Montpelier. The first area where EAB was detected was at National Life in 2018. Infested trees there were either promptly removed or, in the case of one infested green ash tree, treated with Emamectin benzoate. Because EAB are attracted to "sick" trees, any EAB which feed on the leaves of this treated tree will die. A second area where EAB was found was at the Civic Center on Gallison Hill Road in 2021. The green ash trees there will be treated to kill any EAB larvae and adults in those trees this year. The third area where EAB was detected was at the Hunger Mountain Co-Op parking lot in 2021. All ash trees at that location were removed and chipped to kill any EAB. The Tree Board and Parks Department will continue to monitor ash trees around the City to determine where the EAB is spreading to and to try to slow the spread by treating or removing infested trees.
- Check the links below to learn more about EAB and the hazards it poses to ash trees and therefore any owners of ash trees.
- Learn to identify ash trees and explore your property to see if you have any ash trees that would propose a threat to person or property (house/car….)
- Look at your ash tree to see if it looks in poor health in any way… signs of dead or rotten wood, branches that don’t’ have leaves on them, dead leaves or off color leaves. If so take pictures of the ailing area and send pics to the Vermont Invasives website
- If you have an ash tree in poor or declining health that could pose a risk (it has a “target”, it may fall on someone or something of value), this is a good time to have it removed.
- If you have additional questions, please contact the Montpelier Tree Board.
About the Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a destructive insect pest that kills ash trees, usually within 2 to 5 years. It has killed millions of ash trees in 32 states. Vermont is the latest state to identify the pest within its borders and Montpelier is currently in the infestation zone established by Federal and State authorities. Now that EAB is on our doorstep, the Montpelier Tree Board will keep City officials and residents informed and will propose a long-range plan to address the damage EAB will do to street ash trees and park ash trees in the City. This challenge will require a community response in order to slow the spread of this insect. Do you have ash trees in your yard? Please become aware and learn more about this and other pests at Vermont Invasives website.