Bug Dogs Seek Tree Pests

The Emerald Ash Borer season is starting again. The pests have made slow progress through Minnesota – the Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Ramsey, Hennepin, Houston and Winona Counties, killing ash trees by tunneling into the wood and feeding on the tree’s nutrients. The biggest risk of spreading these bugs comes when people unknowingly move firewood or other ash products that harbor larvae.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is working to stop the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, and this week announced a new front-line helper – Emerald Ash Borer sniffing dogs.

Mark Abrahamson is with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Aimee Hurt is with the non-profit organization Working Dogs for Conservation, which trains dogs to do detection work for science and conservation projects.

They talked with KFAI's Terry Carter, who asked 'What does an Emerald Ash Borer smell like?'