Emerald Ash Borer arrives in Randolph

RANDOLPH, N.Y. (WIVB) - It's small and it looks harmless, but the Emerald Ash Borer is public enemy number one on the southern tier.

The tiny beetle has wiped out ash trees in 13 other states.

And last month, the Department of Environmental Conservation found evidence that it had arrived in New York, infesting a handful of trees in the Cattaraugus County town of Randolph.

That's where experts held a public meeting Tuesday night.

Russell Biss of the Department of Environmental Conservation said, "It's gonna spread through the state. It's gonna reduce the number of ash if not totally eliminate them from our forest over time. It's just a matter of how long that may take."

The DEC is asking people to avoid moving any firewood from the Randolph area.