Emerald ash borer discovery near Silver Bay prompts quarantine expansion

SILVER BAY — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has confirmed emerald ash borer in a new location in Lake County, expanding the original quarantine area.

A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources forester noticed unhealthy ash trees in the city of Silver Bay. When inspecting the trees, they found larvae as well as adult borers.

The insect was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009. Larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk.

The quarantine in Lake County is being expanded to include townships comprising the southern half of the county. The quarantine limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area.

MDA also announced the pest was found in Jackson County for the first time, bringing the total number of affected counties to 53.

A virtual informational meeting for residents and tree care professionals in Jackson and Lake counties will be 10 to 11 a.m. Sept. 25.

Registration is available on the MDA's Emerald Ash Borer webpage.

The public will also have an opportunity through Oct. 24 to provide input on the proposal to add these areas to the state’s formal quarantine.

Funding for this environmental story was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).