Photo: Leah Bauer, USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, bugwood.org

In this area you can see traces of the emerald ash borer. This insect, originally found in Asia, was first discovered in North America in 2002. It was brought over in untreated wood. It is now one of Ontario’s most damaging invasive species, killing many ash trees every year. It was first spotted in Sault Ste. Marie in 2008 and continues to spread in the city, killing many trees in 2013 and 2014.

You can identify this small forest pest by the metallic blue-green colour of its body. Affected ash trees can be spotted by their dying branches and yellow leaves. To avoid accidentally spreading this pest, don’t move firewood to new areas.