The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is raising concerns about an invasive pathogen that has arrived in Canada.
Oak wilt is a fungal disease that is emerging as a major threat to oak trees with a third case just reported in Ontario.
The fungus has the potential to devastate forests in Canada which affects recreational use as well as the use of very popular oak species for building, not to mention the many birds, animals and insects that depend on these areas as a source for food and habitats.
Invasive Species Centre’s Madison Sturba gave us some background on Oak Wilt.
The province recently reported it’s third case near Barrie Ontario.
Identifying infected trees is the first step in stopping the spread – Sturba told us how.
The most effective way to stop the spread of Oak Wilt is to not transport firewood, but burn where you buy and to not prune Oak trees between April and October when sap beetles, who are a vector for the disease, are active.
Kyle Borrowman with the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s habitat restoration program in Ontario described the disease.
“It is a fungus that infects the tree and it grows spores on the outer sap wood of the trees, and it restricts the flow of water and nutrients up and down through the tree. So basically just choking it off from the inside,” said Borrowman.
Oak wilt has been reported throughout United States and around the Great Lakes region. Anyone who suspects tree damage should contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at Stop the spread and help keep invasive species out of Canada – Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Written by Joseph Goden