WISCONSIN — An inevitable milestone took place in Wisconsin several days ago as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported that the destructive emerald ash borer (EAB) has now been confirmed in all 72 counties in Wisconsin.

"This is the most destructive and invasive forest pest we've had in North America," Paul Cigan, a forest health specialist with the DNR, said. "And it didn't take very long — 15, maybe 20 years — for it to spread [to every county] in Wisconsin."

While the DNR and various communities work to slow the invasive species' spread, Cigan said they can only do so much.

"Millions of ash trees have been killed in the state," Cigan said. "Many municipalities and community forests have been effected by the damaging affects of EAB, which kills about 99% of our native ash species between green, black and white ash."

Watch the full interview above.