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Watch for Woodpecker Activity
February 26, 2026
Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) has been detected in new towns in Maine. Watch for woodpecker activity and report trees that have signs of emerald ash borer.
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks and kills native ash trees (Fraxinus spp.), resulting in significant cultural, ecological, and economic impacts.
In winter, woodpeckers knock off tree bark in search for food (including EAB larvae), which may help us identify trees with EAB from a distance:
- Light patches of missing bark on stems of ash trees
- Dark chips of ash bark littering the snow
- "S" shaped tunnels underneath the ash bark
Check for these signs while on a snowshoe track, swooshing down slopes, or even sitting down for a meal at your local Chinese restaurant (it happened!). We are actively monitoring for EAB statewide and could use your help checking ash trees.
Learn more with our team at the Maine Forest Service!
- Identify ash trees by watching this 3-minute video with a Maine District Forester, Julie Davenport.
- Scout for signs and symptoms of EAB by watching a 3-minute video with a Maine Entomologist, Colleen Teerling.
- Get answers to FAQ's on EAB for Maine landowners by reading this informational sheet (PDF).
- Reduce the risk of spreading EAB within regulated areas with tips from this Best Management Practices guide (PDF).
Stay Informed
Although EAB has caused destruction of ash ecosystems across North America, including here in Maine, there is hope for these trees. In our area, groups like Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik (APCAW) and Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne) are building collaborative efforts towards keeping ash in our forests. Join SAP-Ne to learn how to preserve and propagate ash seed and about efforts towards maintaining the genetic diversity of ash in our region.
- Cultivating Ash Resilience Across the Landscape- a two-part learning series with SAP-Ne.