Flag Family News Reporter Chris Larson’s interview with Carr’s Tree Service Certified Arborist Quincy Circo
FARGO, N.D. — Fargo forestry officials have confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer.
It’s the second report in the state. The first was in 2024 in LaMoure County.
Emerald ash borer is a wood boring insect originally from Asia which was first found in the U.S. in 2002. It has since spread to 37 states and killed hundreds of millions of ash trees. Emerald ash borer adults do not fly more than a mile or two on their own; however, they can be moved long distances through the movement of firewood, tree trimmings and ash nursery stock.
“This detection is unfortunate, but not surprising, considering the insect was detected in Moorhead in 2023,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “The North Dakota Department of Agriculture and our partners are prepared and will monitor the infestation. Travelers should leave firewood at home and purchase or gather from local sources, if allowed, to prevent further spread.”
Quincy Circo is a Certified Arborist with Carr’s Tree Service, and has not seen adult beetles yet.
“But, I’ve seen lots of evidence of infested trees the last couple of years.” he said.
Circo says the larva can survive even in North Dakota winters.
“You have to remember the larva inside of the bark is insulated with the bark,” he said. “And then oftentimes the larva that are in the tree on the lowest portion close to the ground, sometimes there’s going to be two, three, four feet of snow piled up at the base of the tree. So that can act as an insulator as well.”
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture will collaborate with the City of Fargo, North Dakota Forest Service, NDSU Extension and others to determine the extent of the infestation, continue to monitor ash trees and conduct outreach in the coming months.
“The City of Fargo has aggressively diversified the urban forest with other tree species, reducing boulevard ash populations to less than 21%. The City Forestry Department has placed and monitored traps each summer and promoted awareness through outreach events, news releases and neighborhood mailings,” Fargo City Forester Scott Liudahl said. “We have been preparing for the eventual arrival of emerald ash borer for many years.”
