Pine State News

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) on Mount Desert Island, signaling a new area of concern for the state's forest health efforts. This discovery, made by a licensed professional arborist in Bar Harbor, indicates a well-established EAB population, with visible damage to ash trees observable from public roads.

"This is an unfortunate but not entirely unexpected discovery," stated Patty Cormier, Maine State Forester. She noted that while the spread of EAB throughout Maine is ongoing, the vigilance of local arborists and community members remains crucial in identifying and managing this destructive forest pest.

Following this detection, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry plans to extend the existing EAB quarantine to encompass all towns on Mount Desert Island. According to Cormier, "This non-contiguous quarantine may help slow the spread."

The Maine Forest Service, in collaboration with the Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik, the Sustaining Ash Partners Network, and the USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service, continues to focus on mitigation efforts. Residents, landowners, and municipalities are encouraged to stay informed and report any suspected damage.

For additional details and updated maps showing quarantine boundaries, individuals are directed to maine.gov/eab. This site also offers an interactive map featuring EAB detections. Those needing further information can contact Jim Britt at Jim.Britt@maine.gov.