Gig Harbor Home Depot Parking Lot Trees Die Off Due to Bronze Birch Borer

In Gig Harbor's Home Depot parking lot, dozens of birch trees have turned dead and ghostly just in time for Halloween. The city granted a permit to remove all 42 trees due to a severe infestation caused by the bronze birch borer beetle.

According to an arborist's report, approximately 75% of the birch trees are currently dead, with the remaining living trees showing signs of declining health. Experts warn that tree owners should provide extra care and water to prevent the condition.

The bronze birch borer is native to Washington state and has been exacerbated by droughts and hotter summers. It lays eggs on compromised areas of tree bark, which hatch into larvae that feed on the bark and cause damage.