Emerald ash borer is in Denver.
This invasive beetle kills ash trees within a few years of infesting them. Here is how to spot it, what your options are, and how we can help.
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Is your ash tree at risk?
Emerald ash borer (EAB) was confirmed in Denver in June 2025, and it has now been found in more than 20 Front Range cities. About one in six trees in Denver is an ash, so most neighborhoods have them.
The beetle larvae tunnel under the bark and cut off the tree's flow of water and nutrients. Once a tree is infested, it usually dies within a few years, and dead ash wood turns brittle fast, which makes it more dangerous and more expensive to take down later.
Healthy, valuable ash trees can often be protected with preventive treatment from a certified arborist. Trees already in serious decline should come down before they start dropping limbs. We can look at your trees and give you an honest recommendation.
Emerald ash borer on the Front Range
First found in Colorado, in Boulder.
Confirmed in Lakewood.
Confirmed in Denver, home to about 330,000 ash trees.
Detected in more than 20 Front Range cities.
Reported in Douglas County and Colorado Springs.
Signs of emerald ash borer
- Thinning leaves or dead branches at the top of the canopy
- Small D-shaped exit holes in the bark, about 1/8 inch wide
- Bark splitting or peeling, with S-shaped tunnels underneath
- Lots of woodpecker activity and patches of stripped bark
- New shoots sprouting from the trunk or base
- A tree that leafed out late or lost leaves early this year
Not sure? We'll take a look and give you an honest recommendation, free.
How Devora helps with ash trees
Free ash tree check
We confirm whether your tree is an ash and look for signs of EAB and decline.
Honest treat-or-remove advice
If a tree is healthy enough to save, we will tell you. If not, we explain why.
Safe removal of dying ash
Brittle, declining ash trees taken down in controlled sections with ropes and rigging.
Proper debris handling
Ash wood and debris hauled away, not left as firewood that can spread the beetle.
Stump grinding
Stumps ground below grade so you can plant a new, different species.
Multi-tree and HOA projects
Several ash trees or a whole property handled in one plan.
Emerald ash borer: FAQ
Is emerald ash borer in Denver?
Yes. Emerald ash borer was confirmed in Denver in June 2025, and it has been found in more than 20 Front Range cities, including Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster and Broomfield.
How do I know if my tree is an ash?
Ash trees have compound leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets arranged in pairs, branches that grow directly opposite each other, and bark with a diamond-shaped pattern on mature trees. We can confirm it for free during an estimate.
Should I treat or remove my ash tree?
Healthy ash trees with less than about a third of the canopy lost can often be protected with preventive treatment, which Denver says is about 95% effective when done properly. Trees in heavy decline are usually better removed before they become brittle and hazardous.
Why not wait until the tree dies?
Dead ash wood dries out and becomes brittle quickly. Limbs can snap without warning, and climbers cannot safely use the tree for rigging, so removal gets harder and often more expensive.
Do I need a permit to remove an ash tree in Denver?
Trees in the public right-of-way, like the strip between the sidewalk and street, need a free permit from the Denver City Forester before removal. When you hire a contractor, the contractor gets the permit. Trees fully on private property are generally your call, but ask us if you are unsure.
Can I keep the wood for firewood?
It is best not to move ash wood. Larvae can survive under the bark and spread the beetle to new areas. We haul ash debris away properly.
Sources: CBS Colorado: EAB confirmed in Denver · Colorado State Forest Service · Denver Street Tree Permits
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