Emerald Ash Borer Reporting Rules: What Should Homeowners Do

Reporting emerald ash borer (EAB) infestations is a critical step in managing this destructive pest. Each state has specific reporting requirements that homeowners must follow when they suspect EAB on their property. This comprehensive guide explains exactly what to do if you find emerald ash borer, outlines state-by-state reporting protocols, and walks you through the decision-making process for treatment versus removal.

What is Emerald Ash Borer?

Emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees. This metallic green insect, approximately 1/2 inch long, has devastated ash tree populations across North America since its discovery in Michigan in 2002. According to the USDA, EAB has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Key characteristics of emerald ash borer include:

Metallic green body with bronze or copper underneath
D-shaped exit holes (1/8 inch wide) in tree bark
S-shaped tunnels under bark filled with sawdust-like material

The beetle’s larvae feed on the inner bark, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, eventually killing even healthy ash trees within 3-5 years of infestation. While natural predators can help suppress emerald ash borer populations to some extent, early detection and proper reporting remain essential for effective management.

How to Identify Emerald Ash Borer Infestation

Before reporting a suspected emerald ash borer infestation, you need to confirm the presence of this destructive pest. Look for these telltale signs on your ash trees:

Primary Identification Markers

D-shaped exit holes: Small (1/8 inch) holes where adult beetles emerged from the tree
S-shaped galleries: Winding tunnels visible when bark is removed
Canopy dieback: Thinning leaves starting at the top of the tree and progressing downward
Epicormic sprouting: Unusual growth of shoots from the trunk or roots
Bark splitting: Vertical splits in the bark revealing S-shaped galleries underneath
Increased woodpecker activity: Birds feeding on EAB larvae leave jagged holes

I’ve found that canopy dieback is often the first noticeable sign for most homeowners. In my experience inspecting hundreds of ash trees, the combination of D-shaped exit holes and S-shaped galleries provides the most definitive evidence of EAB presence.

Seasonal Detection Tips

Different EAB symptoms are more visible during specific seasons:

Spring: Look for canopy thinning when leaves should be full
Summer: Adult beetles are active from May to September
Fall: Increased woodpecker activity as birds feed on larvae
Winter: Bark splits and D-shaped exit holes are easier to spot without leaves

Once you’ve identified potential EAB symptoms, the next step is understanding your specific regional reporting requirements.

State-by-State Emerald Ash Borer Reporting Requirements

Emerald ash borer reporting requirements vary significantly by state and even by county. This comprehensive guide covers current reporting protocols for states with confirmed EAB presence.

State	Reporting Agency	Reporting Method	Required Documentation
Michigan	Michigan Dept. of Agriculture	Online form or 800-292-3939	Photos of symptoms and location details
Ohio	Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources	Online portal or 614-387-0800	Photos, location coordinates
Illinois	IL Dept. of Agriculture	EAB hotline: 866-322-4512	Photos of symptoms
New York	NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation	Email or call 866-640-0652	Photos, location details
Pennsylvania	PA Dept. of Agriculture	Badbug hotline: 866-253-7189	Photos and location coordinates

Always check with your state’s department of agriculture or natural resources for the most current reporting requirements. Quarantine statuses change as EAB spreads to new areas.

Understanding Quarantine Status

Quarantine status affects what you can and cannot do with ash wood and materials:

Active Quarantine: Strict regulations on moving ash materials outside quarantine boundaries
Partially Lifted: Some restrictions remain in place, often at county levels
Lifted: In heavily infested areas, quarantines may be removed as EAB becomes established

The USDA APHIS provides the most up-to-date information on national quarantine status. Understanding your reporting obligations is just the first step. Next, let’s explore the actual reporting process and what happens afterward.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reporting Emerald Ash Borer Infestations

Follow these steps to properly report an emerald ash borer infestation in your area. Taking these actions helps contribute to national monitoring efforts and may connect you with local resources.

Document the infestation: Take clear photos of symptoms including D-shaped holes, canopy dieback, and if possible, the beetles themselves
Determine exact location: Note the street address, GPS coordinates if available, and property type
Contact appropriate agency: Use your state-specific reporting method from the table above
Provide detailed information: Include tree size, number of affected trees, and when symptoms were first noticed
Keep records: Document when, how, and who you reported to
Follow up: If you don’t receive a response within two weeks, contact the agency again
Notify neighbors: Alert adjacent property owners so they can inspect their ash trees

When calling your state’s EAB hotline, be prepared to provide the following script: “I’m calling to report a suspected emerald ash borer infestation at [your address]. I’ve observed [specific symptoms] on [number] ash trees on my property. The symptoms were first noticed on [date].”

After reporting a suspected infestation, you’ll need to make important decisions about your ash trees. The next section will help you evaluate your management options.

Management Decision Framework: Treatment vs. Removal

Once EAB has been confirmed in your area, you face a critical decision: treat your ash trees or remove them. This decision framework will guide you through the evaluation process.

Key Decision Factors

Tree Health Assessment
- Healthy trees (less than 30% canopy loss) are good candidates for treatment
- Trees with more than 50% canopy loss have poor treatment prognosis
- Trees with extensive trunk damage should be removed
Tree Value Considerations
- Large, mature specimen trees provide significant shade value
- Trees close to homes can reduce energy costs
- Trees with historical or sentimental significance
- Trees in prominent landscape positions
Cost Analysis
- Treatment costs: $100-300 per tree every 1-2 years
- Removal costs: $500-2000 depending on size and location
- Replacement costs: $200-600 per new tree plus establishment care
Proximity to Known Infestations
- Trees within 15 miles of confirmed EAB require preventative treatment
- Trees in heavily infested areas need more aggressive management

My recommendation is to treat high-value trees that are still healthy (less than 30% canopy loss) and consider removal for trees showing significant decline. Through my work with municipalities, I’ve seen that consistent treatment of valuable trees is cost-effective compared to removal and replacement.

While experimenting with non-chemical traps and barriers for emerald ash borer, I’ve found they work best as monitoring tools rather than control methods. For actual protection, you’ll need to consider professional treatments or removal.

Treatment Options for Homeowners: Professional vs. DIY Approaches

Several effective treatment options exist for protecting ash trees from emerald ash borer. These range from professional applications to DIY methods, each with different efficacy rates, costs, and considerations.

Treatment Method	Active Ingredient	Application Frequency	Approximate Cost	Efficacy Rate	DIY Feasibility
Soil Drench	Imidacloprid	Annual	$15-25 DIY, $100-200 professional	70-85%	High
Trunk Injection	Emamectin benzoate	Every 2-3 years	$200-300 professional only	90-95%	Not suitable
Bark Spray	Dinotefuran	Annual	$75-150 professional, $30-50 DIY	80-90%	Moderate

For DIY treatments, carefully follow product label instructions regarding mixing ratios, application timing, and safety precautions. When hiring professionals, verify they have:

State pesticide applicator license
ISA Certified Arborist credentials
Experience with EAB treatment
Insurance coverage
Written treatment guarantee

The optimal timing for most treatments is spring when trees are actively taking up water. Some methods like sticky bands or nets for emerald ash borer are primarily monitoring tools rather than effective treatments.

Ash Tree Removal and Wood Disposal Regulations

When removing EAB-infested ash trees, specific regulations govern how the wood must be handled and disposed of to prevent further spread. These regulations vary by location but follow some general principles.

Safe removal timing considerations:

Winter removal (October-March) is ideal to prevent adult beetle emergence
Emergency removal may be necessary for hazardous trees regardless of season
Some municipalities require permits for removing trees over a certain size

Proper wood disposal methods:

Chip wood to 1-inch pieces or smaller (kills larvae)
Burn as firewood locally (don’t transport outside quarantine areas)
Take to approved municipal disposal sites that handle EAB waste
Have wood kiln-dried by a certified facility
Debark logs if keeping for lumber

Many municipalities offer special collection services for ash wood. Contact your local forestry department to inquire about these services. Improperly disposed ash material can result in fines in quarantined areas.

Community Coordination for Effective EAB Management

Managing emerald ash borer is most effective when approached as a community effort. Individual actions, while important, gain significant impact when coordinated across neighborhoods and municipalities.

Benefits of community coordination include:

Reduced treatment costs through group rates with professionals
More consistent protection across property lines
Better monitoring and early detection
Potential access to grant programs for treatment or replanting
Shared resources and knowledge

To initiate neighborhood EAB management:

Call a neighborhood meeting about EAB concerns
Invite local extension agents or foresters to speak
Create an inventory of ash trees in your community
Develop a joint treatment or removal schedule
Explore cost-sharing options for treatment or removal
Coordinate with municipal forestry departments

I’ve worked with several neighborhood associations that successfully implemented community-wide management plans. In one case, a 40-home subdivision coordinated treatment of 60 high-value ash trees, negotiating a 30% discount with a professional treatment company. The trees are still thriving five years later, while untreated areas nearby lost nearly all ash trees.

Documentation and Monitoring Systems for Homeowners

Maintaining thorough records of your emerald ash borer management efforts protects your investment and provides valuable data for assessing treatment effectiveness or planning for tree replacement.

A complete EAB management record should include:

1. Tree Inventory Information

Tree location (map or GPS coordinates)
Tree diameter at breast height (DBH)
Tree condition assessment (pre-treatment)
Photos from multiple angles

2. Treatment Records

Treatment date
Product used (including concentration)
Application method
Service provider (if professional)
Cost
Weather conditions at application

3. Monitoring Checklist

Monthly visual inspections during growing season
Detailed canopy assessment (spring and fall)
New symptom documentation
Comparative photos at same time each year
Professional reassessment every 2-3 years

Keep these records in both digital and physical formats. Photo documentation is particularly valuable for tracking changes over time. Set calendar reminders for treatment schedules and monitoring dates.

Long-term Planning: Ash Tree Replacement and Species Diversity

Whether you’re removing ash trees now or preparing for potential future losses, developing a replacement strategy focused on species diversity will create resilience against future pest threats.

The ideal replacement strategy includes:

Diverse species selection: Follow the 10-20-30 rule (no more than 10% of any one species, 20% of any one genus, 30% of any one family)
Native alternatives: Choose native species adapted to your local conditions
Phased approach: Plant replacement trees before removing ash when possible
Site matching: Select species suited to specific soil, light, and space conditions
Future climate considerations: Choose species that will thrive in anticipated climate conditions

Regional native alternatives to consider:

Northeast/Midwest: Kentucky coffeetree, hackberry, tulip poplar, red oak
Southeast: Sweetgum, blackgum, overcup oak, American hornbeam
Central: Bur oak, American linden, chinkapin oak, sycamore
West: Oregon white oak, incense cedar, bigleaf maple

Many municipalities offer cost-sharing programs for ash tree replacement. Check with your local forestry department for available incentives.

Frequently Asked Questions About EAB Reporting and Management

Homeowners often have specific questions about emerald ash borer reporting and management. Here are answers to the most common inquiries we receive.

Do I need to report EAB if it’s already known in my area?

Yes, continue reporting new infestations even in known EAB areas. This data helps track spread patterns and infestation intensity, which informs management decisions. Local agencies may also provide resources for affected homeowners.

Who pays for treatment or removal of ash trees on property lines?

Trees on property lines are usually considered shared responsibility. The cost for treatment or removal should typically be split between neighbors. Check local ordinances as some municipalities have specific rules about boundary trees.

Can I treat my trees myself or do I need to hire a professional?

Homeowners can apply certain treatments like soil drenches and some bark sprays. However, trunk injections require specialized equipment and should only be done by licensed professionals. DIY treatments are generally less effective than professional applications.

Is EAB treatment covered by home insurance?

Most home insurance policies do not cover preventative tree treatments. However, if an untreated tree falls and damages insured property, that damage may be covered. Some specialized landscape insurance policies may offer coverage for high-value trees.

How long will I need to treat my ash trees?

Treatment must continue indefinitely as long as you want to protect the tree. Even after local EAB populations decline, untreated trees will remain vulnerable. Plan for at least 10-15 years of treatment.

What happens if I don’t report or treat EAB?

Untreated trees will die within 3-5 years of infestation, becoming hazardous as they deteriorate. In some municipalities, homeowners may be required to remove dead or hazardous trees at their expense.

Are there penalties for not following quarantine regulations?

Yes, violating EAB quarantine regulations by transporting ash materials outside quarantine boundaries can result in significant fines, typically ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 depending on the severity and jurisdiction.

For comprehensive knowledge beyond emerald ash borer, our definitive homeowner handbook on natural pest control covers a wide range of common household and garden pests.

Resources and References for Region-Specific EAB Information

Emerald ash borer management is an evolving field with frequent regulatory updates and treatment advancements. These resources provide the most current, region-specific information.

Federal Resources

State-Specific Resources

Emerald Ash Borer Information Network (multi-state cooperative)
Your state’s department of agriculture or natural resources website
Your state’s university extension service

Professional Organizations

International Society of Arboriculture (find certified arborists)
American Society of Consulting Arborists

For gardeners and fruit tree owners concerned about EAB affecting their property, explore our guide on managing emerald ash borer on fruit trees and ornamentals naturally for specialized guidance.

By following the reporting requirements and management recommendations in this guide, you can contribute to the nationwide effort to manage emerald ash borer while protecting valuable trees on your property. The actions you take today will help preserve our urban and rural forests for future generations.