Emerald Ash Borer is spreading across Maine, and is close to home in Pondicherry Park. Three years worth of monitoring and partnership with @mainedacf continued this summer as we released the first year’s worth of biocontrol for emerald ash borer (EAB). EAB was discovered in Pondicherry Park last year, and it was determined that the park was a good candidate for the use of this proven management tool. This work will continue next summer with another set of releases.

EAB is an invasive forest pest that kills ash trees. All of Maine’s ash trees are at risk of injury & death. There is a lot at stake: loss of a food source for wildlife, ~$320 million dollar impact to forest landowners, and the loss of black ash, a cultural keystone species for Wabanaki communities. Identifying infestations early and slowing the spread of EAB will give communities more time to plan and mitigate the impacts of this invasive pest. Our efforts over the past three years to stay informed about EAB, monitor for its presence, and now doing what we can to combat EAB are rooted in a desire to be good stewards of the land in our care and allies of Wabanaki communities that face a devastating loss as EAB spreads through the land now called Maine.

What can you do to help stop the spread of EAB?

• DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD! Buy it where you burn it. All of Cumberland County & parts of Oxford County are in a regulated quarantine zone, meaning you cannot transport non heat-treated hardwood out of the quarantine zone.
• Learn how to identify ash trees on your property to look for signs of EAB infestation and report any sightings to the State.
• Learn more about ash protection efforts across Wabanakik here.
• Check out this great FAQ/informational guide for Maine landowners.

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