Emerald Ash Borer Found in Milbank South Dakota

By Scout Nelson

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has confirmed the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Milbank, located in Grant County. The state has expanded its Plant Pest Quarantine to include the newly affected area.

This update brings the total number of counties under quarantine to seven, including Brookings, Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner, Union, and now Grant County. EAB has also been identified in 13 South Dakota communities, such as Sioux Falls, Brookings, Canton, Tea, and Worthing, among others.

The quarantine aims to slow the spread of this invasive pest. It restricts the movement of ash materials and all types of firewood out of the affected counties. Even firewood from hardwood trees is included in the restriction, as untreated wood can carry the larvae of the beetle. A single split log may release multiple adult beetles later in the summer.

The state has issued an external embargo on untreated firewood entering South Dakota from states east of its border or from any county known to have EAB.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a boring beetle that attacks all species of North American ash trees. It was first found in the U.S. in 2002 and detected in South Dakota in 2018. The beetle feeds under the bark, disrupting the tree’s ability to move water and nutrients.

Homeowners within a 15-mile radius of Milbank are urged to contact a commercial tree care applicator soon if they want to save their ash trees. Early-season treatment is most effective in stopping the pest before it causes serious damage.

DANR continues to monitor and manage the situation to protect South Dakota’s trees and slow the spread of EAB across the state.

Photo Credit: south-dakota-state-university