December 4, 2008 Thousands of trees may be lost in Worcester's beetle battle Play video

(Jennifer Eagan, NECN: Worcester, MA) - John O'Toole could tell you the history behind every tree in the backyard of his Worcester home.

But the 71-year-old...who's lived on Clark Street in north Worcester for decades, may see many of them be chopped down. “After 40 years we have an emotional vested interest.”

Surveyors have found 4500 trees infested with the Asian long horned beetle...with a big concentration in the Greendale and Burncoat sections of the city.

Suzanne Bond of the USDA says...as good as surveyors are they only catch about 65 - 70% of infested trees.

That's why the USDA has asked that where the infestation is heavy...surrounding trees are cut down as well.

That means as many as 20,000 trees in North Worcester.

City manager Mike O’Brien is asking that only infested trees come down and surrounding trees are analyzed to see if they're infested.

If the trees do come down...there's concern it could lower property values.