City does battle with invasive tree insect

A "tree-killing machine" is making its way through emerald ash trees in Ottawa, said Coun. Peter Hume.

So the city is redoubling efforts to plant fresh trees underneath the insect-infected ones so when the old one dies, a healthy one will already be partly grown.

Also, firewood in Ottawa cannot be transported outside the city limits.

"Our goal is to plant 100,000 (trees) over four years," Hume said.

The insects are called emerald ash borers. They hatch underneath the bark and bore a tunnel in the tree, cutting off the nutrients that normally flow from the tree's roots into the rest of the branches.

Borers are most active between June and September

Residents faced with the invasive insect can call 311 for help, or request a tree free of charge at ottawa.ca/tree.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Vanessa Lee