April 12, 2017

Indiana DNR Aims To Protect Ash Trees From Deadly Borer

The DNR says the emerald ash borer has killed nearly all mature ash trees across Indiana's northern two-thirds. - USDA

The DNR says the emerald ash borer has killed nearly all mature ash trees across Indiana's northern two-thirds.

USDA

MARSHALL, Ind. (AP) — Indiana officials are working to save select ash trees from an insect that's killed the trees across a large swath of the state.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says it's using chemical treatments to protect large ash trees in areas of Indiana so far unaffected by the emerald ash borer.

Those trees are in western Indiana's Turkey Run State Park and several nature preserves.

The DNR says the insect invader has killed nearly all mature ash trees across Indiana's northern two-thirds.

The borer is advancing south and the DNR says all of Indiana's ash trees will likely die without intervention.

The agency says saving female ash trees could provide seeds for efforts to breed ash trees resistant to the insect that's killed millions of trees in 30 states.

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