The Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Rhinelander. That makes Oneida County the 38th county in Wisconsin to go under quarantine for movement of firewood.
The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says the borer was found at James Williams Middle School, in a trap set by a USDA monitoring program.
Spokesperson Donna Gilson says it appears the infestation was found early.
“We did not see in the tree where we found the trap, didn’t see damage there. However across the street there was some flecking by woodpeckers at the top, which is an indication that there’s something the woodpeckers are going at.”
The emerald ash borer kills ash trees when it burrows under the bark, cutting off the tree’s vascular system.
Officials advise property owners to be on the lookout for signs of the borer…which include a thinning canopy and characteristic D-shaped holes that indicate the ash borer has already done its damage and left the tree.
Gilson says there are chemical treatments that can fight the borer.
"If it’s a tree that really is valuable to you and you’re within 15 miles of where we have found emerald ash borer, we generally say you should probably hire a professional arborist to come and take a look at the tree. You may want to start treating that tree right away even if you’re not seeing signs of infestation.”
No other neighboring counties have been found to have the borer, so Gilson says it’s a clear indication that it was brought in by humans.
Since part of the Lac du Flambeau reservation falls within Oneida county, state and federal officials are consulting with tribal officials about how the quarantine may impact the reservation.
