Monday, June 1, 2009, the first EAB confirmed trees were removed in Minnesota along Long Avenue in the Hampden Park neighborhood of Saint Paul. This is basically the point area of where the infestation was first confirmed. All told, Saint Paul Forestry, working under the direction of the MDA, removed approximately 27 public trees on the ROW and in Hampden Park itself.
MDA and Forestry staff began getting signed Consent forms for removal of confirmed infested trees on private property. MDA and Forestry continued their survey of trees and the total now confirmed are around 60+, all within a half mile of initial find. It appears there is a pattern of slowly finding and adding a handful of new confirmed infested trees within the area each day. Good news, so far there have been no confirmed cases outside the 1/2 mile radius, though it is generally thought this may well be deceiving.
On June 2, crews will finish any confirmed public trees and will begin removal of private confirmed trees where Consent has been signed off on. Reportedly, one of the home owners near ground zero finds an adult beetle on his car windshield and captured it. It will be turned over for confirmation. If confirmed, this would support the fear that beetles are now emerging from infested trees and begin to move around.
MDA will be identifying locations in the Hampden neighborhood for girdling (stripping a narrow band of bark off the trunk) ~20 public "trap" trees, trees already in decline that will be sacrificed in order to lure beetles to them. A flyer is being developed that will be given to homeowners near selected trees to be girdled explaining the process and why they were selected.Plans for the actual girdling of trees is projected to occur sometime this week, probably Thursday or Friday.
Thursday evening,there will be an EAB informational "Open House" at South St. Anthony Rec from 6-8PM.
