Woodpeckers Can Signal Emerald Ash Borer

If you notice woodpeckers have been making numerous small exploratory holes up and down an ash tree, it's a good bet that the tree is infested with Emerald Ash Borer. Many such probing holes may be present. This is often first noticed in winter because the lighter-colored damaged areas stand out against the darker bark and are not concealed by leaf cover.

Once a tree is infested, it is often too late to save. The beetle larvae tunnel under the bark, girdling the tree over 2-4 years. Proper disposal of wood from infested trees is important, and it should not be moved off-site. Treatments are available, including preventative treatments for high-value individual trees. For more information, see the MN Department of Agriculture website https://www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.