The Death and Life of Ash Trees: Emerald Ash Borer on the Bennington Campus — ENV2210.01
The ash trees on campus are dying from an introduced beetle. Ash trees make up about 8% of Vermont鈥檚 forests and their foliage contributes to our iconic fall colors. They are culturally important trees with deep connections to art from Indigenous basket making to Beyonce鈥檚 Louisville slugger in Lemonade. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetle arrived in North America in Michigan in 2002; it was first confirmed on the Bennington campus in late 2024. The mortality rate of EAB-infested ash trees is 99.97%.