Emerald Ash Borer Still a Fight in Will County

If an ash tree has been infected with the Emerald Ash Borer, chances are that tree will eventually die and then have to be torn down. It’s a problem that’s affecting not just Illinois, but Michigan, Wisconsin and others.

Andrew Hawkins, superintendent of planning and development of the Forest Preserve District of Will County, said they are on their second full year of dead tree removal. The first year the district had an $80,000 contract.

“We made it through the spring and part of the summer and then we realized that it was not enough,” Hawkins said.

The tree removal contract for 2015 is $250,000 and the same is planned for 2016.

“Hopefully, we will see real decline in the amount of trees that are still out there that pose a danger,” Hawkins said. “We’re not removing every dead tree that’s out there. What we’re doing is removing those that pose a possibility of injuring someone.”

Trees that are far off a path won’t be torn down.

As of Sept. 2014, 504 ash trees have been torn down and those were the ones that were in the most danger of potentially hurting someone.

Green ash trees are specifically the ones the EAB have been targeting. Other ash trees have been affected, but green ash trees are the worst as far as infestation is concerned, Hawkins said.

The larvae from the EAB gets in between the bark and the tree itself. The tree is then unable to provide minerals and nutrients to itself.

“In short, the trees will die,” Hawkins said.

A few years back, treating trees infested with the EAB was discussed but the cost per tree is prohibitive.

“Nobody that I know of is still actively treating a large number of trees,” Hawkins said. “There may be some large trees that they specifically think is worth the investment.”

Hawkins said the cost per tree, per treatment would be around $500 a year.

“It’s almost impossible,” Hawkins said. “On a scale of the Will County Forest Preserve District, nearly 22,000 acres of land, we can’t manage all that land.”

According to emeraldashborer.info, the beetle was first discovered near Detroit, Michigan in the summer of 2002.

“Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States of solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia,” the website states.

Those looking to help control the spread of the EAB should know not to transport firewood outside of local areas.

“You’re not taking the larvae with you and introducing it to new areas,” Hawkins said. “But once you’re in the situation where we are in northeastern Illinois, it’s already here, so I guess the best thing you can do is remove the infected trees.”

Throughout the summer is when the EAB will cause most of its tree damage, but you won’t notice it until the latter part of the year.