The City of North Bay will begin removing ash trees – some thought to be 70 years of age, from parks and municipally-owned properties this summer.
These trees are infested with the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect from Asia that feeds on all species of ash tree, and first detected in Ontario in 2002. There is no known method to eradicate the wood-boring insect.
Typically, the borer has been present for at least two years before signs of infection are visible. Work is now underway to identify and inventory infected trees throughout areas of the city.
A number of infected ash trees have been identified in Lee Park. Work has already begun to remove them in order to prevent unsafe conditions as part of the installation of new playground equipment. City of North Bay Parks Supervisor Mark Thomas said, “We can’t have dead and dying limbs above playgrounds and actively used pathways.”
Several ash trees that line Memorial Drive will also have to be removed over time due to the infestation. When asked how many at the waterfront will be removed, Thomas said, “We haven’t done a complete inventory but it’s a significant amount of trees.”
Thomas pointed out all trees that are removed due to infection will be replaced on a one-to-one basis with a variety of species in order to minimize any future invasive species-related risks.
“For the past three or four years,” in preparation for the emerald ash borer, “we’ve been planting the waterfront with a lot of native species – maples, oaks, pines.” These are all species unaffected by the insects.
For assistance with trees on private property that have been affected, owners may want to contact a qualified arborist who is familiar with this type of infestation. For more information on the Emerald Ash Borer, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website.
