Colorado Springs Has Found Emerald Ash Borer in About 30 Trees, and Roughly 40,000 Ash Trees Across the City Are at Risk
Roughly one in every five trees in Colorado Springs is an ash, and the beetle that kills them is now confirmed inside the city. City Forestry Manager Matthew Puckett said about 30 trees have confirmed emerald ash borer infestations, out of an estimated 40,000 ash trees citywide. The first infested trees on private property have already come down, and arborists say untreated ash trees are likely to die as the beetle spreads. On Friday, Oct. 2, a crew from Tall Timbers Tree & Shrub Service removed two infested ash trees at two homes in the Rustic Hills neighborhood of northeast Colorado Springs, The Gazette reported. Branches were pulped on site, and the trunks were hauled to Rocky Top Resources to be turned into mulch. Removing a single ash tree cost around $800, depending on its size and how easily crews could reach it. For homeowners with a large ash shading the house or yard, that is…