Emerald Ash Borer found in new areas of Carlton County; Emergency quarantines enacted
CARLTON COUNTY, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been found in new areas of Carlton County.
Emerald Ash Borer in hand
(Photo by Marianne Prue, Ohio DNR Division of Forestry, Bugwood.org)
It was discovered near Holyoke, Sawyer, and Wrenshall.
The MDA is enacting emergency quarantines in Carlton.
The quarantine excludes the Fond du Lac Reservation.
The quarantine limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area.
A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources employee made the discovery in Carlton County.
It was also discovered in for the first time in Meeker, Murray, Ottertail, and Wadena counties.
Emergency quarantines are also in place in those counties.
There are now 58 counties in the state with EAB.
RELATED: Minnesota Department Of Agriculture Teaching People How To Find Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer insect 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.
Often, the trees show several signs of infestation because of this.
Woodpeckers like to feed on EAB larvae, and woodpecker holes may indicate the presence of emerald ash borer.
Also, EAB tunneling can cause the bark to split open, revealing characteristic S-shaped galleries underneath.
A virtual informational meeting for residents and tree care professionals will be held on Tuesday, July 8, from 10–11 a.m.
Experts from the MDA will give a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. Register on the MDA website.
The public will also have an opportunity to provide input on the emergency quarantines before the quarantines become formal.
The MDA is taking comments on the emergency quarantine now through August 8, 2025, and recommends adopting the quarantine on August 11, 2025. The proposed quarantine language can be found on the MDA website.
