When thinking about Maine, a lot of people imagine our rocky coastline and beaches. While this is certainly a big part of what makes this state so special, it’s not the only outdoor area that’s worth seeing. The forested areas are just as wonderful and we often feel lucky to have so much access to it. In fact, we don’t even need to venture into the woods to enjoy the woods and trees. In most places, we’re surrounded by them. But this season experts have seen an invasive species take over one type of tree and it’s threatening to hurt livelihoods and the state’s beauty.

It's not uncommon to find a forest just as green and full of tall trees as this one.
jackflanagan / Flickr
And it's equally as common to find the most beautiful trees right in our own backyard.
athrasher / Flickr
Unfortunately, recent news of the invasive emerald ash borer has us a little nervous about just how attached to these beauties we should get.
Matthew Paul Argall / Flickr
This small beetle has made an appearance in Saco, Westbrook and Porter. Now in two counties, officials are on alert to see just how big this problem might be
treegrow / Flickr

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The problem? The emerald ash borer threatens local ash trees by boring their way inside. Once invaded, ash trees face the threat of death within two to three years.
usfsregion5 / Flickr
The ash tree makes up about 4% of the state's hardwood trees which means they're an important part of both forests and local neighborhood streets.
rdb466 / Flickr
The trees are also an important timber source and, perhaps most importantly, a cultural resource for the Wabanaki.
nrcs_south_dakota / Flickr
In January 2021 Maine declared a state of emergency related to the emerald ash borer which prohibits the movement of some ash products as well as untreated firewood.
phatalbert / Flickr
How bad could this problem get? It's not clear and officials are keeping a close watch. Since first being spotted in North America the emerald ash borer has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees and cost local areas hundreds of millions of dollars. This little creature is not to be taken lightly and we're hoping things can improve for Maine before it gets worse.

Have you seen the emerald ash borer in your area? If so, let us know your experience. You can learn more about the emerald ash borer and the Maine state emergency order by clicking here.

How about a little bit of good news related to tiny creatures and the great outdoors? For that, check out this butterfly garden in Maine that’s the perfect family destination!

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Featured Addresses
Saco, ME, USA
Westbrook, ME 04092, USA
Porter, ME 04068, USA