Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Welland, Ontario

Ottawa, June 4, 2009 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in Welland, Ontario. The infested trees are located in the Carl Road and Darby Road area. The emerald ash borer poses no risk to human or animal health.

The CFIA will be carrying out increased surveying of trees in the area to determine the extent of the infestation. Affected property owners will be notified. Regulatory measures to control this pest will be taken based on information obtained through the surveys.

The EAB is a destructive beetle that has already killed a large number of ash trees in Ontario and north eastern U.S. It poses a major economic threat to urban and forested areas of North America. There have been numerous finds of this pest in Ontario and in one location in Quebec. The CFIA continues to work with its partners and stakeholders towards the goal of slowing its spread.

The emerald ash borer does not spread quickly on its own. The key to limiting the spread of this beetle is to get people to stop moving potentially infested ash materials - such as logs, branches, nursery stock, wood chips, and firewood of all species - to non-infested locations. Area residents can play a key role in helping to control EAB by avoiding actions that would promote its spread.

We all have a responsibility to protect Canada’s forests.

Additional information is available on the CFIA web site at www.inspection.gc.ca or by calling 1-866-463-6017.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations: 613-773-6600

• Main Page - Emerald Ash Borer