Montreal Gazette - Ash trees in West Island threatened by beetle

West Island homeowners have officially been notified that the emerald ash borer beetle is on its way, which could likely kill off thousands of trees in the coming years.

Forest ecology expert Jim Fyles at Macdonald Campus of McGill University says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's warning about beetle infestations means the West Island's ash trees could all be destroyed within 15 years.

Fyles described the beetle situation as a SARS-like epidemic facing ash trees. "The way this thing gets around is it rides around in firewood," Fyles said.