Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Bruce County

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(July 11, 2012) - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in Bruce County, Ontario. The emerald ash borer was discovered in Waterworks Park in Lucknow.

Movement restrictions, which prohibit the movement of all ash materials-such as logs, branches and wood chips-and all species of firewood from the affected site, have been put in place. Property owners in the affected area have been notified of these restrictions. Further regulatory measures will be considered once all survey work has been completed for the year.

The presence of EAB has now been confirmed in 26 Ontario counties, and in three areas in the province of Quebec. Although EAB does not pose a risk to human health, it is a highly destructive beetle. It has already killed millions of ash trees in Ontario, Quebec and the United States, and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas of North America.

EAB can spread rapidly if it is moved by people. The public can play a key part in helping to control the spread of EAB by not moving potentially infested materials such as firewood or any ash materials such as logs, branches, nursery stock, chips or other ash wood.

The CFIA continues to work with federal, provincial and municipal governments towards slowing the spread of EAB. We all have a responsibility to protect Canada's forests.

BACKGROUNDER

The emerald ash borer (EAB) was first discovered in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan in 2002. It is believed that this beetle was introduced to North America from eastern Asia in wood packaging material in the early 1990s. It went undetected until its population built up to damaging levels.

Scientists in Canada and the United States have concluded that EAB cannot be eradicated. In light of this, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) adopted a "slow-the-spread" approach. As part of that, the CFIA continues to do the following activities across Canada: surveillance, regulation, enforcement and communications.

To help limit the spread of EAB, a ministerial order has been enacted to regulate areas infested by the pest. This will help to restrict the movement of ash tree articles and firewood. This is needed because moving these items contributes to the beetle spreading.

The regulated areas for EAB under ministerial order in 2012 are as follows.

Ontario

Cities of Hamilton and Toronto, the Regional Municipalities of Chatham-Kent, Durham, York, Peel, Halton, Niagara and Waterloo and the Counties of Brant (including the City of Brantford), Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford, Perth and Wellington