Emerald ash borer detected in Beaverton

The invasive emerald ash borer has been confirmed in several new northwest Oregon locations, including Salem, Beaverton, and Rockcreek, marking a significant expansion of the destructive beetle’s footprint in the state, forestry officials announced Thursday.

The detections, confirmed in July after traps set in the spring were analyzed, represent the first time the pest has been found in Salem, Beaverton, Bethany Lake Park in Rockcreek, and the Oregon Garden in Silverton. The beetle was also discovered along the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, the first time it has been found in an Oregon state park. A suspected detection at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro is currently awaiting official state confirmation.

“Any ash tree can be infested, including native Oregon ash as well as non-native street, park and yard trees,” said Kat Bethea, an emerald ash borer specialist with the Oregon Department of Forestry.

First detected in Oregon in 2022 in Forest Grove, the beetle has now spread to five Willamette Valley counties: Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill. A quarantine is currently in place across these counties, prohibiting the movement of firewood from hardwood trees, as well as any parts of ash, olive, or white fringetree.

Local municipalities have already begun mitigation efforts. In Salem, where nearly 4,000 public ash trees have been inventoried, the city has halted new ash plantings, begun pre-emptive removals of unhealthy trees, and started insecticide injections to protect 1,200 high-value trees. Beaverton has also treated 600 of its 2,000 inventoried street trees using grant funding.

Forestry officials urge residents to report potential sightings by calling 1-866-INVADER or online at oregoninvasiveshotline.org, preferably with a clear photo to assist in identification.

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