The tree-killing Emerald Ash Borer is inching ever closer to Guthrie County, as just earlier this week it was found in five nearby Counties of Lucas, Monroe, Marion, Appanoose and Mahaska. Emma Hanigan is the Urban Forester for our region of the State, and says citizens can play a big role in keeping the bug out of our region, “Emerald Ash Borer travels in firewood, and is likely spread in Iowa by people transporting Emerald Ash Borer around the State in firewood.”
Hanigan says if not stopped, the Emerald Ash Borer has the ability to kill many of Iowa’s ash trees, drastically affecting the State-wide ecosystem.