Emerald ash borer invasion in Wellend

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The Golden Horseshoe has been waging a losing battle against an invasive species call the emerald ash borer for years. The city of Welland has been hacking down trees since the first ash tree tested positive in 2009 but the city is facing a financial crunch that could ultimately put residents in danger.

The wood-boring beetle is not-native to the area and is highly destructive. As larvae feed under the bark they create S shaped tunnels which stops the flow of nutrients to the tree ultimately killing them.

While there has only been one case of an infected tree falling the trees pose a risk to pedestrians, drivers and homes.

The forestry department says there is about 2500 infected ash trees on city boulevards. They’ve removed about 800 of those so far but that figure doesn’t account for the thousands of infected ash trees along the Welland canal. The department has a budget of $250 000 dedicated to removing infected trees, a far cry from the $2 million it needs.

City council is also considering another $350 000 in funding. Removing all the ash trees in the city could take 3 to 4 years.