The Emerald Ash Borer is here! As many of you may have noticed, almost all ash trees in Northwood have been infested by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This can be seen when birds strip away the outer bark to get at the insect larvae, resulting in "blonding." Once infected, the trees die and rapidly begin to deteriorate. And property owners are encouraged to have trees removed, especially those that threaten buildings. You can learn more about EAB at the UNH Cooperative Extension website, https://nhbugs.org. This website will provide information about how to identify the insect and its various life stages, as well as who to contact to verify infested trees. UNH also provides a list of arborists who, for a fee, can remove ash trees. You should make sure that contractors have liability insurance, and if they have employees, workmen's compensation insurance. You should ask for proof of insurance before allowing anyone on your property to remove trees. And you should also ask for references. If you hire one of the "I'll cut your trees for free" companies, you should inquire what if anything will be done with the unusable wood and branches. In most cases it will be up to the landowner to remove the brush. Stump grinding is an extra fee.