Omaha is taking action against the Emerald Ash Borer.
It comes after the discovery of the beetle in Pulaski Park last week, the first found in Nebraska.
More than 75,000 ash trees in Omaha are threatened.
The tiny emerald colored bug is gradually killing millions of ash trees across the U.S. and Canada, spreading from the Northwestern U.S.
City parks officials believe the emerald ash borer might have been in Omaha for more than a year.
The city parks department knows where every one of the 14,000 trees are in its parks and right of ways.
They also know which ones can be treated to fight the ash borer, and which ones should be cut down.
So far, 700 trees have been taken down and crews began treating ash trees in Elmwood Park Wednesday morning.
“We know which ones are healthy,” said Brook Bench, Parks and Recreation director. “We know which ones we're planning on treating. So we have a good plan in place, and I feel very confident in our staff that we're moving in the right direction.”
The city sent out bid requests to contractors to apply to treat, spray or remove infested ash trees across the city.
