Canada’s 1st case of ‘oak wilt’ confirmed in Niagara Falls

Canada’s first case of a forest invasive that targets oak trees has been confirmed in Niagara Falls.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says oak wilt, also known as Bretziella fagacearum, was found on oak trees in a residential area on May 23.

“Three trees on the property show signs of serious decline as a result of oak wilt,” the federal agency said Tuesday in a statement to CHCH News.

“The CFIA is working with the property owner and the City of Niagara Falls to facilitate removal and destruction of implicated trees to prevent further spread of the disease.”

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Oak wilt is an invasive vascular disease of oak trees caused by a fungus that disrupts the movement of water and nutrients.

While all oak trees are susceptible to the disease, the CFIA says red oaks are particularly vulnerable and can die within two to six weeks following infection.

“The disease can cause widespread economic, ecological and social impacts if left undetected or untreated,” the statement reads.

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The federal agency says the origin of the fungus is not known at this time.

The CFIA says it is working with other federal, provincial and municipal governments to survey the area and determine next steps.

Movement restrictions are also in place on affected properties to help prevent the spread of the disease.

What community members can do

The CFIA is encouraging Canadians to monitor the health of oak trees. Here are the signs of oak wilt to look out for:

• Wilting and bronzing of oak leaves, starting from the top of the tree and moving down
• Discolouration of the leaves, beginning at the leaf edges and progressing to the midrib
• Premature leaf fall
• White, grey or black fungal mats, also referred to as “pressure pads”, just under the bark that sometimes emit a fruity smell
• Vertical bark cracks in the trunk and large branches from the fungal spore mat exerting outward pressure on the bark

People can also protect oak trees by not transporting firewood long distances and not pruning oak trees between April and October.

Signs of oak wilt can be reported to the CFIA online, and should include the location of the tree and photos of the symptoms.

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