Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Awareness Week kicked off on Sunday, May 20 and is an effort to increase public awareness about EAB and the threat it poses to ash trees in Fargo and North Dakota.
The City of Fargo urges residents and visitors to become better educated about EAB and to take action to help slow the spread of this invasive pest.
In recognition of EAB Awareness Week, the city will be placing ribbon on ash street trees to highlight a sampling of the large areas that are at risk and will be affected by the pest. These areas include 17th Avenue South east of 32nd Street and 32nd Avenue North east of Broadway.
Fargo residents and visitors can help slow the spread of EAB in several ways:
- Don’t move firewood.
- Diversify tree plantings to reduce vulnerability.
- Become aware of the symptoms of EAB and report possible sightings to the Forestry Department.
- Learn about the signs and symptoms of EAB infestation. This information can be found at the EAB website at www.emeraldashborer.info.
EAB attacks all species of North American ash trees. The EAB larvae kill ash trees by feeding on the soft layer of wood just under the bark that moves water and nutrients throughout the tree. The Forestry Department continues to aggressively move forward with ash tree diversification efforts.
Emerald ash borer is native to Asia. It was discovered near Detroit, Michigan in 2002. Since then, it has spread to 33 states, including Minnesota and recently South Dakota, primarily through infested firewood. EAB has killed millions of trees. Currently, EAB has not been detected in North Dakota.
For more information about local Fargo trees and the awareness week, contact the Forestry Department by email or call 701.241.1465.