Three cases of fatal tree fungus in Ontario and Niagara has two of them

Niagara Falls had the first reported case of the oak wilt tree disease in all of Canada on June 12, a month ago, and now Niagara-on-the-Lake just added the third case in Ontario.

Confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), oak wilt is caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum, and spreads naturally through root grafts or beetles carrying fungal spores.

Red Oaks are particularly susceptible to this fungus. Although the disease moves slowly, it poses a significant threat to Canada’s trees and forests if not controlled.

The CFIA has been working with the Town and the affected property owner to address this issue as soon as possible. To help prevent the spread of oak wilt, movement restrictions (moving any wood from the property offsite) have been imposed on the affected property.

When it was discovered on a Niagara Falls resident’s property in June, the CFIA said on its website, “To help prevent the spread of this detection, movement restrictions are in place on affected properties. We are working with other federal, provincial, and municipal governments to survey the area and determine next steps.”

The CFIA is asking the public not to prune oak trees between April and November, as they are at high risk for oak wilt infection at this time.

If you observe signs of oak wilt, such as dull green, brown, or yellow leaves, cracks in the trunk, white, grey, or black fungus, and early and sudden leaf drops on your oak tree, please report it at THIS WEBSITE.