Woodpecker feeding may show emerald ash borer presence.



View as a webpage  /  Share [ [link removed] ]



NISAW 2025 Logo [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________



NISAW: Watch for Woodpecker Activity

*Emerald ash borer *"(Agrilus planipennis) "has been detected in new towns in Maine [ [link removed] ]. Watch for woodpecker activity and report trees that have signs of emerald ash borer.

Woodpecker damage from EAB

Images: Light patches of missing bark on ash created by woodpecker foraging may reveal signs of emerald ash borer damage. Photos: Maine Forest Service.

________________________________________________________________________



Emerald ash borer [ [link removed] ] (EAB) is an invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks and kills native ash trees ("Fraxinus spp.), "resulting in significant cultural, ecological, and economic impacts.

*In winter*, woodpeckers knock off tree bark in search for food, which may help us look for signs of EAB:


* Light patches of missing bark on stems of ash trees
* Dark chips of ash bark littering the snow 
* "S" shaped tunnels underneath the ash bark

Chips of bark on the snow under an ash tree that has been attacked by emerald ash borer.

Image: An ash tree with light patches of missing bark and dark chips of bark litter the snow - signs that the tree may be infested with invasive EAB. Photo: Oliver Markewicz, Maine Forest Service.

Check for these signs while on a snowshoe track, swooshing down slopes, or even sitting down for a meal at your local Chinese restaurant (it happened!). We are actively monitoring for EAB statewide and could use your help checking ash trees.

Report EAB [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________



Our new 2025 EAB detections dashboard

To better understand where and when EAB has been detected, and see up-to-date EAB quarantine zones, check out our newly constructed EAB Dashboard. 

EAB Dashboard [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________



Learn more with our team at the Maine Forest Service!

* *Identify ash trees* by watching this 3 minute video with a Maine District Forester, Julie Davenport [ [link removed] ].
* *Scout for signs and symptoms of EAB* by watching a 3 minute video with a Maine Entomologist, Colleen Teerling [ [link removed] ].
* *Get answers to FAQ's on EAB for Maine landowners* by reading this informational sheet [ [link removed] ] (PDF).
* *Reduce the risk of spreading EAB within regulated areas* with tips from this Best Management Practices guide [ [link removed] ] (PDF).

________________________________________________________________________



Stay informed

Although EAB has caused destruction of ash ecosystems across North America, including here in Maine, there is hope for these trees. In our area, groups like Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik (APCAW [ [link removed] ]) and Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne [ [link removed] ]) are building collaborative efforts towards keeping ash in our forests. Join SAP-Ne to learn how to preserve and propagate ash seed and about efforts towards maintaining the genetic diversity of ash in our region.


* *The How-To of Ash Seed Preservation from Collection to Propagation *March 6, 2025, 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET. *Register here [ [link removed] ].*
* *New Hampshire State Forest Nursery Field Tour* March 20, 2025, 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET. *Register here [ [link removed] ].*

________________________________________________________________________





Maine State Government is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

[ [link removed] ]

Facebook [ [link removed] ] Twitter [ [link removed] ] Email Updates [ [link removed] ]

Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ] | Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ] | Help [ [link removed] ] | Credits [ [link removed] ] | Contact Us [ [link removed] ]





________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry · 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building · Augusta, ME 04333 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]