OTTAWA, August 31, 2010: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in the City of Ottawa, outside the current Ottawa - Gatineau regulated area. An adult EAB was retrieved from an insect trap south of Fallowfield Road near Richmond Road.
Movement restrictions on regulated wood materials will be placed on the affected property. Further regulatory measures will be considered once survey work is completed for the year.
Although the EAB does not pose a risk to human health, it is a highly destructive beetle that has already killed a large number of ash trees in Ontario and north eastern U.S., and it poses a major economic threat to urban and forested areas of North America. There have been numerous finds of this pest in Ontario and Quebec.
The emerald ash borer can spread rapidly if moved by people. The key challenge in limiting the spread of this beetle is to prevent people from moving potentially infested ash materials - such as logs, branches, nursery stock, wood chips and firewood of all species - to non-infested areas. The public can play a key part in helping to control the spread of EAB by avoiding actions that would promote its spread.
The CFIA continues to work with federal, provincial and municipal governments towards slowing the spread of the EAB. We all have a responsibility to protect Canada's forests.
Additional information is available on the CFIA web site at www.inspection.gc.ca/pests or by calling 1-866-463-6017.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations: 613-773-6600
