Please see the following Emerald Ash Borer 2013 Update for the Town of Caledon. Note: if you identify a diseased street tree on the boulevard please notify the Town and we will remove it.
Emerald Ash Borer 2013 Update for the Town of Caledon
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the presence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Caledon in 2012. It was initially found in the South Hill area of Bolton. There is evidence that Emerald Ash Borer is spreading throughout the municipality as it has throughout the whole of Southern Ontario.
The Town has established partnerships with the CFIA and the Region of Peel Urban Forestry Working Group to ensure that our processes are based on current best practices in the industry.
Once a tree is infested with EAB, there are no options to save it; the EAB has no natural predators in North America. There are two relatively new products that can be injected below the bark of ash trees that may be successful at preventing an infestation of a tree by killing the larvae in its very early stages. These products require repeat applications and there is currently no permanent solution to preventing the spread of EAB.
The Town of Caledon is currently exploring the use of one of these products on Town-owned ash street trees but it is only practical in a limited number of situations.
What are the signs of EAB and what is your role?
* Signs of an infested ash tree include a reduced density in leaves, long shoots growing from the trunk or branches, vertical cracks in the trunk, small D-shaped holes in the trunk or evidence of adult beetles feeding on the leaves.
* To help prevent the spread of EAB, do not move firewood or ash tree material. If you go camping, buy firewood locally and burn it there. EAB does not spread quickly but moving infested wood can spread the EAB to new areas.
* EAB is an invasive species of beetle which feeds exclusively on ash trees. Native to Asia, EAB attacks and kills species of ash trees, except Mountain Ash which is not a true ash tree. The larvae burrow under the bark of ash trees and feed there, causing extensive damage that leads to the death of the tree.
* There is no immediate need to cut down ash trees on your property. If you suspect an ash tree on your property is infested or you are interested in preventing EAB from infesting your ash tree, you are encouraged to contact a certified arborist to discuss this.
* If your tree has died or is a hazard, you will need to arrange for its removal.
For photos and information on EAB and how to recognize it, visit the CFIA’s website at httpz://www.inspection.gc.ca/plants/plant-protection/insects/emerald-ash-borer/signs-and-symptoms/eng/1337359854091/1337359975259
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Media Contact:
Bethany Lee
Corporate Communications
905.584.2272 x.4106 | communications@caledon.ca
