Emerald Ash Borer Makes It Way to Northwest Minnesota

Minnesota — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) recently confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Clay County for the first time. There are now 39 counties in the state, including Clay, with EAB.

A Moorhead city forester found evidence of EAB while pruning trees. The tree had visible woodpecker damage and when the bark was peeled back galleries and insect larvae were present.

Because this is the first time EAB has been identified in Clay County, the MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine of the western portion of the county, from State Highway 9 west to the North Dakota border, which limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area.

The public can help limit the spread of this harmful forest pest by not moving firewood and reporting any suspected infestations, according to Extension Educator Heather Dufault.

Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive species that has killed more than 1 million ash trees in Minnesota. In addition to this being the first EAB find in Clay County, this is also the first EAB find in northwestern Minnesota. The detection is unfortunate but not unexpected, given the location is near a highly traveled corridor in the state. As to what this means for surrounding counties, Dufault says not to panic as it generally spreads very slowly.

A virtual informational meeting for residents and tree care professionals in Clay County will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Experts from the MDA will give a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.