Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) update
EAB found in St. Paul, Minnesota
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Don't let its size fool you... the Emerald Ash Borer represents an enormous threat.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been found in St. Paul. What does this mean for
Bloomington? The City is working on putting in place a program to deal with this tree disease.
Quarantine in effect
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has implemented a quarantine in Hennepin and
Ramsey counties that prohibits the movement of the following items out of Ramsey and Hennepin
counties:
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Firewood from any hardwood (non-coniferous) species.
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Entire ash trees.
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Ash limbs and branches.
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Ash logs or untreated ash lumber with bark attached.
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Uncomposted ash chips and uncomposted ash bark chips larger than 2 inches in diameter.
Information regarding disposal of quarantined ash tree waste can be found at the city's Garbage and
yardwaste disposal and recycling page.
Do I have Emerald Ash Borer? What does it look like?
The above picture offers a general idea of the Emerald Ash Borer's size and appearance.
The MDA has posted a Web page and several informative PDFs on its website to help identify this
pest:
City and State response
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MDA staff will conduct a thorough survey of trees in the surrounding area to assess the
extent of infestation. Information from this survey will help determine the response
strategy implemented by state and local officials. The MDA and MN DNR are working
closely with the USDA Animal and Plant and Health Inspection Service in the MDA response.
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City staff tree inspectors licensed by MDA are prepared to include in our annual city tree
inspections the search for EAB in both public and private areas in the City.
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The City's goal is to communicate the most current information available from the MDA, to
encourage residents not to plant ash trees, to recommend residents take extra care of ash
trees they are trying to retain, and assure residents our city tree inspection staff will
be including the inspection for, and possible detection of, EAB as we do our annual
inspections of trees in the city.
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We do not anticipate a major change in how the City deals with ash trees and EAB until such
time as the MDA has completed its survey and makes a recommendation on how best to approach
this new tree disease.
Further information on the Emerald Ash Borer can be found on the following websites:
Photo credit: Howard Russell, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org.
For more information, contact:
Paul Edwardson, Assistant Maintenance Superintendent/City Forester
1700 W. 98th Street
PH: 952-563-8762
E-mail: pedwardson@ci.bloomington.mn.us
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