As ash trees drop their leaves this month, take a closer look at the bark. Patches where the outer bark looks scraped away, leaving pale, blond flecks behind, are a classic sign that woodpeckers have been feeding on emerald ash borer larvae just beneath the surface.
Emerald ash borer has been working through Maryland and Pennsylvania for years, and by the time an ash shows obvious canopy dieback, the damage under the bark is usually well along. Woodpecker flecking, thinning at the top of the crown, small D-shaped exit holes, and new sprouts along the trunk are the signs we look for. Fall and winter make the flecking easier to spot, because there are no leaves in the way.
Not every ash on a property has to come down. Valuable, healthy trees caught early can sometimes be protected, while trees already in decline become brittle quickly and are safer to remove before they start dropping limbs. An arborist's eye can tell you which situation you are in and what makes sense for your property.
Do you have any ash trees on your property, and have you noticed pale patches on the bark lately?
#EmeraldAshBorer #BaltimoreCounty
A close-up of an ash trunk showing woodpecker flecking (pale patches where outer bark has been stripped), ideally from a real Baltimore County or York County property. A wider shot showing a thinning ash crown also works. Authentic job photos from real crews and real properties strongly preferred over stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Blond Bark Patches on Your Ash?" or "Spot Emerald Ash Borer Before It Spreads"