Highway crews in the Town of Tonawanda are getting help from Mother Nature as they deal with the Emerald Ash Borer infestation that is killing large numbers of ash trees.
Mild winter temperatures are allowing crews, that would normally be snow plowing, to take down numerous dead ash trees in the town. Workers tell 7 Eyewitness News they are cutting down three to four trees per day - with many more to go.
The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive insect that has destroyed 50 million trees nationwide since it was first discovered in Michigan in 2002. It is thought the insect migrated to this country from Asia on shipping pallets.
Some tree experts estimate the bug has killed nearly 50 percent of the ash trees in this area.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a strict quarantine on the movement of ash wood in several parts of the state including the Buffalo-Niagara region.
Much more information can be found on the NYS DEC website: click here.
7 Eyewitness News reporter Ed Reilly spent the day in the Town of Tonawanda talking to municipal crews and a Al's Tree Service about the problem. Watch Ed's reports for more information.
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