The beetle that killed Michigan's ash trees was first found in the state in 2002. Ash it killed can still be standing in backyards, along fence lines and over garages, and dead ash doesn't get safer as it ages.
How the borer got here
Emerald ash borer was first found in southeastern Michigan, near Detroit, in the summer of 2002. The Emerald Ash Borer Information Network says it killed more than 30 million ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, and the state's invasive species program puts the statewide toll in the tens of millions. Michigan repealed its internal EAB quarantine effective October 1, 2018, and the beetle is now listed as established across the Lower Peninsula. You no longer need to report a sighting.
Signs an ash is infested or dead
- D-shaped exit holes. Small, flat-sided holes in the bark where adult beetles came out.
- Tunnels under the bark. The larvae feed beneath the bark; where bark has fallen away, the winding galleries show.
- A confirmed diagnosis. The state suggests a qualified arborist if you're not sure what's wrong with a tree.
Why a dead ash gets riskier
Tree Care Industry Magazine's 2023 article on critical-risk ash, written by a tree care safety professional, says the borer usually kills a tree in two to five years and that the wood's structure then breaks down quickly, leaving it "very brittle, but hard." A dead stem can sound and feel solid during an inspection while being weak inside. The author advises against climbing an ash in that state and suggests an aerial lift or another way in. For you, that means two things: a dead ash near the house is better dealt with sooner than later, and a quote for it may include a lift or crane that a live tree wouldn't need.
Removing versus treating
Living ash trees can sometimes be protected with insecticide. If someone applies pesticide to your trees for pay, Michigan requires a licensed pesticide application business that is, or employs, a certified applicator; the state's ornamental category covers shade trees. Once an ash is dead, removal is the remaining option.
Published prices
| Situation | Angi, Oct 2026 (national) |
|---|---|
| Average removal | $750 |
| Most removals | $200 to $2,000 |
| Diseased tree with soft, easily broken wood | $400 to $900 |
| Crane, per day | about $500 ($250 to $600) |
| Difficult crane removal, total | can reach $6,000 to $7,000 |
The wood
Michigan's message on ash is simple: don't move firewood. Moving infested wood is how the beetle traveled long distances. Burning it at home, or having the contractor chip or haul it, keeps it local.
Inside Battle Creek, the contractor needs a city tree trimmer license. See city rules.