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Emerald Ash Borer Found in the City of Sheboygan
The City of Sheboygan confirmed the presence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in the city. On March 23, 2016, DNR officials confirmed that an ash tree, removed by the DPW tree crew in the 2400 block of Ontario Avenue, was infested with the Emerald Ash Borer. This is the first confirmed EAB detection in the city and the farthest north detection in Sheboygan County. Since the first find, crews have also found EAB in two additional areas: Lakeview Park on the far south side of the city, and on the corner of N. 17th Street and New Jersey Avenue along the Sheboygan River.
Finding EAB in the city came as no surprise. Sheboygan County has been under an EAB Quarantine since 2008 because of its proximity to Wisconsin’s first EAB find near Newburg. EAB was first detected in Sheboygan County in 2014 in the Village of Random Lake and the Town of Holland. For information about the emerald ash borer quarantine, visit emeraldashborer.wi.gov.
In 2015, the city received a $21,900 DNR Urban Forestry grant to prepare an urban forestry management plan with an EAB component, conduct a tree planting site inventory, and purchase tree inventory software. The management plan is near completion, and will soon be presented to the City Council for their review and approval. The plan will determine the next steps the city will take to handle the EAB infestation. Insecticide treatments, tree removals and re-planting with other tree species will be the main part of this plan.
Homeowners in the city and county should consider insecticide treatments for ash trees on their property to prevent the trees from dying from EAB over the next few years. Treatments are usually done between mid-April and mid-May. Trees that are not ash do not need treatment for EAB. Mountain ash is not susceptible to the insect. If a tree will not be treated, removing a live ash tree before it dies is usually cheaper then removal of a dead ash tree.
Emerald Ash Borer
Information and Resources:
- Emerald Ash Borer and Urban Forestry Plan (Published August 18, 2016)
- meraldashborer.wi.gov
- UW-Extension Sheboygan Horticulture
- Homeowner Guide to Emerald Ash Borer Insecticide Treatments
- Video: Joe Kerlin explains the Emerald Ash Borer infestation