Emerald Ash Borer found in NY

Biologists have been worrying about this for more than five years. The emerald ash borer’s been moving inexorably North.

The DEC announced today an infestation of emerald ash borers has been found in western New York, in Cattaraugus County. Here’s a picture of the damage.

The agency said there are 900 million ash trees in New York. Mohawks have been using them to make pack baskets for generations.

DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis calls the spread of the invasive species “inevitable”. The Nature Conservancy likens it to Chestnut Blight or Dutch Elm Disease. Jonathan Staples of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said, “The detection of the Emerald Ash Borer will have a profound effect on the state’s landscape given the huge number of ash trees located throughout New York.”

Yikes.

Officials are urging people to obey the state’s firewood transporting regulations, which you can find here.

UPDATE: Brian’s wayyyyy faster than I am on this. I should be reading our own blog more often.