"Pittsburgh's Ash, Oak Trees Expected To Die Off"

"Woodpeckers are already very busy, digging emerald ash borer larvae out of the city's ash trees and loving it.

But folks who like to stroll down tree-shaded neighborhood streets, relax in sylvan backyards or hike through the city's forested parks will have a more negative and potentially more dangerous view of the imminent, massive and costly die off of ash and, to a lesser extent, oak, in Pittsburgh's urban forest.

Over the next three to eight years, as the rat-a-tat-tat of the opportunistic woodpeckers echoes through the city's parks and neighborhoods, more than 165,000 ash trees will likely be killed by emerald ash borer infestation, according to city forester David Jahn. Oak wilt fungus will also claim some of the 45,000 oaks in the city."

Don Hopey reports for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette March 27, 2011.