Emerald Ash Borer Found in St. Ignace
By Ryan Schlehuber

Less than a month after an infestation of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in Moran, another infestation of the insect has been discovered in Straits State Park in St. Ignace, researchers from an EAB response team confirmed Tuesday, October 30. The finding alarms foresters, who have been working to keep the insect out of the Upper Peninsula to protect its ash trees. Now they will have to determine if federal funds are available to remove all of the ash trees within a half mile of the infestation, and foresters are considering going door to door in St. Ignace and Moran to ask people not to move ash logs or branches.

The St. Ignace discovery is the third infestation in the Upper Peninsula, with the first found at Brimley State Park in 2005, Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) officials reported.

EAB, an aggressive Asian beetle, has destroyed or damaged 25 million ash trees throughout the Midwest, eastern states, and Ontario. Efforts to prevent the spread of EAB-infested firewood north over the Mackinac Bridge have been intensive, following the discovery of EAB in Michigan in 2002.

"Detection trees" have been set up throughout the Upper Peninsula and are routinely checked for signs of the beetle's invasion.

Staff and students from Michigan Technological University in Houghton established 20 detection trees in Straits State Park, which are being surveyed now. As of Friday, November 2, only one tree has tested positive for EAB, said Jim Bowes, the state's EAB spokesman. The tree showed an exit hole created by the insect, meaning it matured to an adult and escaped.

The detection trees are being studied and tested by researchers from Michigan State University in Lansing.

"This discovery [in St. Ignace] further underscores the need for travelers to stop moving firewood," said Don Koivisto, MDA director. "It's critical that we slow the spread of EAB to allow science to provide additional research to offer a longterm eradication solution if we are to be successful in preserving Michigan's natural resources."

The MDA believes the infestation in Brimley has been eradicated, while sites in Moran, and now St. Ignace, are in the eradication process.

"It may only be a partial eradication needed in the Straits State Park," said Mr. Bowes. "It depends on ample resources we'll need to do that. In the past, it has been federally funded, however, but we are unsure if we can secure funding to remove the trees."

"Curbing the spread of EAB and protecting the ash resource in Michigan hinges on a stable federal funding commitment," said Mr. Koivisto.

MDAofficials are pondering the idea of creating a quarantine in St. Ignace and Moran, in which foresters will go door to door, informing residents that they cannot move logs, branches, or other parts of ash trees.

Both the MDA and the Department of Natural Resources will work together for the next few weeks to find the extent of infestation at the St. Ignace site, surveying a half-mile area around the St. Ignace site, said Mr. Bowes.

"We're looking to see if there are more signs or symptoms of spreading in the area," he said.

An adult insect typically travels about one-half mile to where it was hatched as a larva, and only lives about 45 days.

The voluntary EAB screening system at the Mackinac Bridge toll booths will continue as is, said Bob Sweeney, executive secretary of the bridge authority, unless EAB experts recommend a change. Bridge toll takers ask drivers with camping or hunting gear to check firewood at the checkpoint near the Welcome Center. Hardwood must not be moved into the Upper Peninsula and is collected at the checkpoint.