BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 13, 2024
An infestation of the invasive emerald ash borer is wreaking havoc on the Portland’s 600-or-so inventoried ash trees, and officials expect hundreds will die. Many other ash trees will be cut down in an effort to keep the devastating insects from spreading. “It’s a tough pill to swallow,” said Portland City Arborist Mark Reiland. “And a lot of the ash trees were planted to replace elms wiped out in the 1970s by Dutch elm disease.”