What is ailing this tree? Part 1: Emerald Ash Borer

This is our first in a series of reels and KZbin shorts titled “What is ailing this tree?”, a series where we will answer questions we receive about tree disease and pests!
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was first identified in Michigan in 2002. Since then, it has spread to the West Coast, specifically Oregon, where it was first identified in the summer of 2022. The beetle is smaller than a common penny, but it has already killed millions of ash trees in urban forests and in the wild. EAB severs the tree’s vascular system.
This beetle impacts ash trees of the Fraxinus genus in the olive and lilac families. The Oregon ash is the only kind that is native to the PNW. Non-native ashes that are commonly found in the region, include: White ash or American ash, European ash or Common ash, Green ash, and Raywood ash. In addition, there are ash cultivars in the PNW.
All ash trees of the Fraxinus genus are vulnerable to EAB, but Tacoma ash trees have not been affected yet! This makes it all the more important for us to be attentive to the signs of EAB! Two important ways to do so are:
Learn how to identify ashes
Learn how to identify EAB presence.
TREE ID: Ash leaves are a good place to start. They are compound leaves composed of a single stalk with multiple opposing leaflets that arise along the stalk.
EAB ID: yellowing leaves, crown thinning or die-back, water sprouts at the base, vertical cracks or splits on the bark, woodpecker bark removal. If some or all of these signs are present, look for the most conclusive signs of EAB: d-shaped exit holes and s-shaped feeding galleries.
Early detection is crucial! Be tree attentive to help keep EAB out of Tacoma!
Our full EAB short will be available on our KZbin channel on 1/16/24. Head over to get the full story!
If you want to learn more about ash ID, go to: extension.oregonstate.edu/gal...
If you ID EAB activity, head over to the WA Invasive Species Control to find out how to report a sighting: invasivespecies.wa.gov/
Many thanks to Sarah Low, as always, for helping us share tree knowledge with everyone! @strategicnature