Emerald Ash Borer Discovered In Halton Region

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CIFA) has made the positive identification of the Emerald Ash Borer on the Town of Oakville. A destruction insect pest, the Emerald Ash Borer can have a devastating affect on ash species native to North America that are typically found on streets, road allowances, woodlands and natural areas. Identification of the Emerald Ash Borer in Oakville does not necessarily mean it has spread to Halton Hills. However, Region wide restrictions on the transport of nursery stock, logs, wood, rough lumber, bark or wood chips from ash trees and firewood of all species outside of the boundaries of the Region may impact local residents.

“Staff will work collectively with the Regional municipalities to develop a unified approach to this issue” advised Mayor Rick Bonnette “and it is good to have had an early response to this initial discovery in Halton Region. While there is no immediate impact to Halton Hills, we look forward to cooperating with CIFA to ensure that we can do as much as possible to limit the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer in the Region.”

The Emerald Ash Borer is a dark green insect less than 14mm long and its impact to trees is evident in the vertical cracks in the bark, D-shaped exit holes in the trunk, declining braches and suckering from the trunk of the tree. Information is available at the CIFA website and residents are encouraged to call the Emerald Ash Borer hotline at 1-866-463-6017 to report evidence of the insect or obtain more information.

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