Emerald ash borer study continues

BRACEBRIDGE — With the Emerald ash borer creeping its way north, local officials continue to be on the lookout and guard.

Left, Scott Young, Muskoka Conservancy executive director; Rick Maloney, environmental advisory committee chair; Mayor Graydon Smith; Aaron Rusak, Muskoka Conservancy administration and program coordinator; and Yvon Gravel, town engineering technologist and environmental advisory committee staff member.

The ash-eating beetle has been detected in Barrie and Ramara Township.

As a result, the Muskoka Conservancy is one of the first to actively advocate against it.  The Town of Bracebridge presented Aaron Rusak, administration and program coordinator of Muskoka Conservancy with another cheque, for $2,000, in further support of its Emerald Ash Borer Early Detection Project.

Emerald ash borer is a highly destructive invasive pest that arrived from Asia, most likely in untreated ash wood used for packing material.

It attacks all species of true ash (Fraxinus spp) found in North America, no matter the size, age or health status. Emerald ash borer does not attack or kill mountain ash (Sorbus spp).

In North America, the beetle was first detected in Windsor and Detroit in 2002. Outbreaks of emerald ash borer have been confirmed in Barrie and detected in Ramara Township.

In June 2016, Muskoka Conservancy in partnership with the Town of Bracebridge launched an Emerald Ash Borer Early Detection Pilot Project. Muskoka Conservancy worked with BioForest Technologies Inc. hanging and monitoring twenty (20) green prism traps in the canopy of ash trees throughout the Bracebridge area.

Muskoka Conservancy repeated the project again in June 2017 and placed 24 green prism traps, donated from BioForest Technologies Inc., throughout Bracebridge and Gravenhurst.

At the end of each project term, all traps were checked and evaluated showing no evidence of the emerald ash borer.

On November 6, 2017, Muskoka Conservancy presented a review of the 2017 Emerald Ash Borer Early Detection Project to the Bracebridge’s environmental advisory committee with a request for funding to continue the project in 2018.

“The town is pleased to financially support this project”, said Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith.

“This will assist Muskoka Conservancy in their ongoing detection of the emerald ash borer in Muskoka through trapping, engaging volunteers and public education.” Muskoka Conservancy will be initiating the Emerald Ash Borer Early Detection Project in June 2018.

For further information, contact: Walt Schmid, director of public works at 705-645-6319 ext. 230 [email protected]; or Scott Young, executive director of the Muskoka Conservancy (705) 645-7393 ext. 204 [email protected]