City of Antigo Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan
For the Antigo Times
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks ash trees.
Since EAB was first identified in North America in 2002, it has killed 100’s of millions of ash trees nationwide. Signs of EAB in Wisconsin were first reported in 2008.
In an effort to slow the spread of this invasive insect, please report any signs of emerald ash borer to the Park and Recreation Department immediately. You may also call the Emerald Ash Borer hotline at 1-800-462-2803. The insect spreads primarily through the transport of firewood, so please exercise caution when transporting wood to other areas of the state.
The Park and Recreation Department recognizes the severity of the effects of EAB and worked with Bluestem Forestry Consulting, Inc. to create an EAB readiness plan for Antigo’s cemeteries, parks and trail. The plan includes information on how to recognize EAB infestation and what the City of Antigo plans to do when EAB reaches the area. The City of Antigo EAB Readiness plan was made possible through a Wisconsin DNR Urban Forestry Grant.
The City of Antigo has 160 ash trees (5.5% of our total public tree population) located in public right of way, parks, or cemeteries. Crews are working to proactively remove the ash trees prior to an identified infestation. Proactive removal is a benefit to both our crews and city dollars. We have been working with a contractor to prioritize removal of larger ash trees and our in-house crews will be removing smaller or medium sized trees. The city will work to replant ash trees that have been removed with a variety of species.
The WDNR has created an informational guide for homeowners as well. Both documents can be viewed by clicking the links below. You can also obtain more information on EAB by visiting the WDNR website at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/urbanforests/eabtoolbox.html or Wisconsin’s Emerald Ash Borer Information Source at http://datcpservices.wisconsin.gov/eab/index.jsp.
Erik Rantala, Administrator, with Langlade County Forestry and Recreation and Sarah Repp, with Antigo Park, Recreation and Cemetery Department collaborated to compile the above educational information for our residents and visitors.
“This document was funded in part by an urban forestry grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forestry Program as authorized under s. 23.097, Wis. Stat.”