Emerald ash borer (EAB), the most destructive tree pest in the U.S., has been discovered in Oregon.
Parks staff is developing a plan to mitigate its eventual impact on our urban forest, and we need your help! Here’s what you can do:
Assist in detection by learning how to identify the pest here:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/pub/em-9127#identifying-emerald-ash-borer
Here are some common lookalikes:
Emerald ash borer look-alikes (from oregon.gov)
Report sightings to the invasive species hotline:
https://oregoninvasiveshotline.org/reports/create
Learn to identify ash trees:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/pub/em-9127#recognizing-ash-trees
If you’d like to really go the extra mile, enroll in the Oregon Forest Pest Detector Program, its free!
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/pub/em-9127#oregon-forest-pest-detector-program
If you have ash trees on your property, make sure they are adequately watered and mulched during drought and pay attention to their health. Emerald ash borers are attracted to stressed trees, so keep yours healthy. Avoid pruning April through October.
If you would like to plant a new tree on your property (which you absolutely should), please choose a species other than ash.
Please do not move firewood. Moving infested ash firewood is known to spread the pest
