The emerald ash borer, an invasive wood-boring insect, was identified in Denver on June 17 and confirmed by entomology experts from Colorado State University and Denver’s Office of the City Forester.

According to city officials, there are approximately 1.45 million ash trees in the Denver metro area, with 330,000 of them in the City and County of Denver. That means about one in every six trees in the Mile High City is an ash tree, and one in every 10 trees on public land in Denver is an ash tree. 

To learn more about the insect, how to detect infestation and connect with resources to help residents take action by treating or removing ash trees on their property, visit www.denvergov.org and search “emerald ash borer.”

Holiday closures and council schedule

Most City and County of Denver agencies will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Other agencies may have impacted hours. Those who have continuous operations, such as Denver International Airport and sworn members of the Denver Sheriff, Police and Fire departments,  and other emergency responders, will remain on duty.

In accordance with the Denver City Charter, City Council Committee meetings will be canceled during the week of July 4 and on the Monday closest to the holiday.

As a result, the Council will meet on Monday, June 30; however, there will be no committee meetings for the remainder of the week.

Denver City Council will not meet on Monday, July 7, but committee meetings will resume that week.

Shelter vaccine clinics move to Tuesdays and Thursdays

The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment has announced that the Denver Animal Shelter’s (DAS) weekend low-cost vaccine clinic will move from Saturdays and Sundays to Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., beginning on July 1.

The change allows DAS to add adoption-only services earlier on weekends — from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 

All other services, including surrendering pets, picking up lost animals, owner euthanasia requests, permitting, and licensing, will still be available from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information, call DAS at (720) 913-1311.