Emerald ash borer search in GB

GREEN BAY - Trained crews with the state Department of Agriculture shaved thin layers off some ash trees, looking for signs of the emerald ash borer.

The crews will spend hours a day for at least a week, peeling away thin layers of ash trees for signs of the Emerald Ash Borer.

Department of Natural Resources plant, pest and disease specialist Bill McNee said inevitably the ash borer will make its way to Green Bay and start killing ash trees.

"Is there an infestation in downtown Green Bay? We don't know yet. But once you find this tree that's infested, you know it's there so the uncertainty is over,” said McNee. "The earlier you find the Emerald Ash Borer means that you have more time to deal with it for replanting."

The crew searches for tunnel-like carvings in the wood. That is what the Ash Borer's burrowing looks like.

"If we do find trees that are infected, then we can target that part of the city and possibly adjacent communities to limit the infestation to determine what area is infested and how extensive the trees are infested," said McNee.

The insect kills ash trees by preventing them from getting water and nutrients. Julie Lobajeski-Berg said the thought of losing trees in the neighborhood is upsetting.

"Especially in a neighborhood like this because we're so close together. For me it's very important to have my trees," said Lobajeski-Berg.

Just down the street, Valerie Gurney is more worried about the insects spreading than losing her trees.

"I would like them taken down if we have them because I don't want it to spread so all the other trees have to come down," said Gurney.

McNee says so far, no Emerald Ash Borers have been found in the peeled trees. The crews started on Monday. It will take about a week for them to peel all eight trees. If any insects are found, McNee said more trees will be peeled to find out how wide spread the bugs could be.