Management Brief: Managing the Threat of Emerald Ash Borer Invasion in a Changing Climate

In June 2022, the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis; “EAB”) was discovered in Forest Grove, OR, marking its first appearance west of the Rocky Mountains. Forest managers fear for the future of Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) and at least 8 other tree species found only in western North America. Climate change may broaden the threat of EAB invasion and will require climate-smart, proactive management to sustain healthy forests.

Other resources

EAB has been detected in additional Northwest counties since this Management Brief was first published in 2022. For more up-to-date information on EAB, please consult the following:

• EAB Information Network (website with lots of resources)

• Known EAB-infested U.S. counties (map)

• Regulated EAB areas in Canada (includes map)

• RMD-25-01: EAB management in Canada

• U.S. National Invasive Species Information Center EAB page

• Journal article: Ecological niche modeling and potential dispersal of emerald ash borer in the Pacific Northwest (Zhu et al., 2025) 

Northwest-focused EAB resources

British Columbia:

• BC Invasives: EAB page

• BC Invasives EAB factsheet

Idaho:

• Idaho State Department of Agriculture: EAB factsheet

• University of Idaho Extension: Bulletin, "Emerald Ash Borer: A Potential Threat to Idaho Urban Landscapes"

Montana:

• Montana Field Guide: EAB page

• Montana Invasive Species Council: Factsheet

• Montana State University: EAB factsheet

Oregon:

• Oregon Invasive Species Council: EAB hub

Washington:

• Washington Invasive Species Council: EAB page

• Washington Invasive Species Council: EAB factsheet

• Washington Invasive Species Council: EAB identification and lookalikes for WA state