An adult emerald ash borer beetle in a tree in the St. Boniface area. (CITY OF WINNIPEG / FILE)
City crews are responding to the first significant detection of emerald ash borer activity in Winnipeg since the pest was first discovered in 2017.
The invasive beetle, which feeds on and kills ash trees, poses a serious threat to the city’s entire ash tree population once established.
When the pest was initially detected, officials warned it could wipe out Winnipeg’s ash trees within 10 to 15 years, as seen in other parts of North America. However, preventative tree injections and aggressive management helped slow its spread, with only 22 infected public trees removed between 2017 and 2025.
Earlier this year, a new population of the beetle was identified, prompting renewed action.
Crews are now set to remove susceptible ash trees in the Glenwood neighbourhood starting this week, and the city says it is updating its management plan to respond to the changing situation.
The city says the easiest way Winnipeggers can help slow the spread of EAB is to not move firewood and residents to burn wood where they bought it.
