The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was positively identified in the City of Omaha last week, and official notification was released on June 8th by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
For the homeowner, the Nebraska Forrest Service has a webpage (www.EABNE.info) that will help you answer questions and concerns such as:
- How to select trees for treatment
- How to select and arborist or tree service
- Homeowner guidelines for treatment
- Misconceptions about treatments
- And much much more.
Additionally, the City Council approved the EAB Response Plan, which you will be able to view here. This information will help you know how the City will respond to the EAB.
The Nebraska EAB working groups offers the following suggestions to help prevent the human-assisted spread of the pest:
- Use locally sourced firewood, burning it in the same county where you purchased it. Firewood is a transportation vessel for the pest.
- Only high value ash tress located within 15 miles of a known infestation should be considered for treatment. Trees that are experiencing declining health should be considered for removal.
- If you feel you have located an EAB infestation, please report it to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at (402) 471-2351, the Nebraska Forest Service at (402) 472-2944 or your local USDA office at (402) 434-2345.