Ash Borer Quarantine Changes

The state Department of Agriculture says it’s turning new attention to the tree-killing invasive beetle called the emerald ash borer.

It’s to keep it from fanning out any more in the U.P.

The state has changed its quarantine related to the green beetle.

It’s consolidated the Lower Peninsula from 2 areas to 1.

The change makes it OK again to move firewood in the Lower Peninsula, but the state is asking people not to do that anyway.

It should prevent the spread of other pests.

It’s still illegal to move firewood across the Mackinac Bridge.

The state Department of Ag’s plant pest management division says the group is committed to keeping the ash borer from spreading further in the U.P.

The Asian beetle has killed tens of millions of ash trees in 8 U.S. states and in Ontario, Canada.

So far this year, the ash borer has turned up in Delta, Schoolcraft and Houghton Counties.

It had never been found in any of them before.