MADISON, Wis. -- State officials are targeting 5,900 ash trees for removal to help prevent the onslaught of the emerald ash borer.

The wood-boring beetle has wiped out an estimated 20 million Midwestern ash trees -- none yet in Wisconsin.

But in 17 Wisconsin counties, including Dane and Rock counties, ash trees will be removed to look for signs of the pest.

"They'll be marking trees initially. You may see them out. They'll be selecting different trees and marking them, and then coming back in November we'll be removing some of these trees, peeling their bark, to see if we can find evidence of emerald ash borer," said Jane Larson of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Most of the trees surveyed will be on public land but some homeowners might be asked for their ash trees.

Wisconsin is home to 717 million ash trees, and 20 percent of Madison's street trees are ash trees.