Protect Your Trees
Fountain Garden Park in Bayfield
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive beetle from Asia, has reached Bayfield County, but it’s not too late to save your ash trees.
In addition to being beautiful shade trees, ash trees hold cultural significance for the Ojibwe and other indigenous peoples, with a wide range of medicinal and technological uses. Ash trees also provide habitat for many insects, birds, and mammals.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently confirmed an EAB infestation in one of the ash trees in Fountain Garden Park, a Bayfield Heritage Association property, and in the Big Ravine. The garden tree is slated to come down as it is beyond saving – but the folks at the DNR encouraged us to share the following with homeowners and others in the Bayfield area.
All trees within a 15-mile radius are considered exposed to the pest. While it is not possible to protect every ash tree in the area, individual trees can be shielded from infection with an annual to biennial treatment. More information can be found here: https://eab.russell.wisc.edu/considerations-for-homeowners/
Symptoms include woodpecker flecking, canopy thinning and branch dieback, usually beginning in the top of the tree. If you have an ash tree in the City of Bayfield that you suspect may be infected, please contact Beth Cozzi at 715-779-3585. Beth is chair of the Bayfield City Tree Board and will see to it that any suspect tree is examined and a prescription for next steps recommended.
Ash Tree on the Big Ravine East Rim Trail
Suspected infestations may also be reported to Paul Cigan, DNR Forest Health Specialist for Northwest Wisconsin, at 715-416-4920. You can view all and report any new township detections using this interactive map.
For larger forested parcels, the DNR recommends working with a professional forester to perform an assessment of the stand or a review of any existing management plans to ensure your stand remains resilient.