VANCOUVER, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A destructive invasive beetle that has killed millions of ash trees across North America has officially been found in Washington state.

State and federal officials confirmed the first Washington detection of emerald ash borer in Vancouver. The people who first spotted the beetle on Aug. 3 reported the sighting to Washington Invasive Species Council.

The pest was first found regionally in Oregon in 2022 and later in Vancouver, B.C., bringing it closer to Washington before this latest discovery. The beetle has been established in eastern North America for decades.

Experts say ash tree populations can be wiped out within a decade of infestation, and there’s no proven way to eradicate the beetle once it’s established.

Officials are urging residents to report suspected sightings and comply with Washington’s ban on firewood imports from outside the state.