BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 22, 2026
The presence of emerald ash borers was confirmed on Mount Desert Island last April, adding to a growing list of infestations in many parts of the state. The invasive wood-boring beetle kills ash trees by feeding on their inner bark, nearly always ensuring the tree’s death within three to four years. The insect has wiped out tens of millions of ash trees in North America, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since infestations were detected around Mount Desert Island, Bangor and Hermon, Ellsworth is weighing a $100,000 treatment program that could protect the city’s ash trees from the invasive species.