# @denverwestword on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DLaGwhasLr4
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/31914265-denverwestword-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/6adaed1d9f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-06-27T14:39:20.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Denver Westword (@denverwestword) — https://gondola.cc/denverwestword

## Caption

The day city officials have dreaded for over a decade has finally arrived: The emerald ash borer has reached Denver.

The emerald ash borer is an invasive species of beetle native to north-eastern Asia. It is considered the most destructive forest pest in United States history, with its larvae having killed tens of millions of ash trees by tunneling through the wood and damaging the tree’s ability to transport nutrients and water.

The insect was identified in Denver for the first time on June 17, the city announced yesterday. That is a big concern as there are 1.45 million ash trees in the Denver metro area and 330,000 within city limits, accounting for around one in every six trees in the Mile High City, according to Denver Parks & Recreation.

“This is not a low-stakes battle,” says Jolon Clark, executive director of Denver Parks & Recreation. “EAB has devastated ash tree populations in 37 U.S. states and parts of Canada, costing those communities billions of dollars. Based on this widespread destruction, we’ve been proactively battling EAB.”

✍️ Read the full story by hannahmetzgermedia at westword.com or at the link in our bio.

#emeraldashborer #colorado #denver #denvernews #westword

## Stats

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## Tags

denver, colorado, denvernews, westword, emeraldashborer

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