Oregon Department of Forestry hires two new specialists in battle with beetles

PORTLAND, Ore. ( PORTLAND TRIBUNE ) — The battle against invasive beetles has gained two new champions.

The Oregon Department of Forestry hired two support specialists to aid communities in responding to the infamous emerald ash borer, which are spreading across the state and pose a devastating threat to native ash trees.

The hope is Matt Mills and Kat Bethea will help mitigate the threat the green beetles pose.

“We are pleased to have found two who are so well qualified and highly motivated to do this important work,” said Scott Altenhoff, ODF Urban and Community Forestry program manager.

Emerald ash borers originated from Asia and were first spotted domestically in Michigan in 2002. The tree ravagers have since spread across the west, locally hitting Forest Grove in 2022. Their main target is in the name — ash trees. The females lay eggs on the trunks, and the larvae eat tunnels under the bark through the cambium layer. That makes it impossible for the trees to move water and nutrients from the roots to leaves, eventually killing them.

Read more at PortlandTribune.com.

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