Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Aug. 21, 2023 – What's Oak Wilt & How Can I Spot It?

Welcome to the Mayor’s Monday Mailbag, an initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office launched to share weekly answers to questions from the public we’ve received through our main email inbox at mayor@burlington.ca or the Mayor’s social media platforms.At the end of the month, we publish a roundup of those most pressing questions we’ve received in the weeks prior.Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Aug. 21, 2023QUESTION:"What is Oak wilt and what should I do if I see signs of it on local trees?”ANSWER:Recently, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced the first confirmed detections of oak wilt in Niagara Falls and Springwater, near Barrie. No cases have been confirmed in Burlington, however, the City is proactively sharing tips with residents on how to prevent the spread of oak wilt locally, and what to do if they suspect oak wilt is present in the community.What is Oak wilt?

• Oak wilt is a vascular disease of oak trees, caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum. The fungus grows on the outer sapwood of oak trees, restricting the flow of water and nutrients through the tree.
• Oak wilt can damage and destroy an oak tree in a single season.
• All oak species are susceptible and at-risk.
• Oak wilt poses no threat to humans, animals, bees or insects.
• Oak wilt is spread through root-to-root contact between infected and uninfected trees, insects that move spores from infected trees to healthy trees, and movement of wood products, such as firewood.
• There is no treatment for oak trees infected with oak wilt. Once an oak tree is infected with oak wilt, removal is the only option, and the CFIA needs to be notified.

Oak wilt prevention tips:

• Avoid pruning oak trees between April and November. Minimizing wounds on healthy trees during the flight period of insect carriers helps maintain the health of oak trees.
• Do not move firewood. In addition to insect carriers, oak wilt is spread through the movement of infected wood.
• Understand the signs and symptoms of oak wilt. Symptoms of oak wilt include dull green, brown or yellow leaves, cracks in the trunk, white, grey or black fungus as well as early and sudden leaf drop.
• The City is asking residents who have oak trees on their private property to inspect their trees for oak wilt. If residents suspect oak wilt to be present on their oak tree or on a City-owned oak tree, they are asked to report it the CFIA and the City at 905-335-7777 or email city@burlington.ca

For further information on the impacts of oak wilt and how to identify signs and symptoms of oak wilt, visit: www.burlington.ca/pestsanddiseases

•                    •                    •

RELATED LINKS:

• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Aug. 14, 2023 – What Support Does Halton Region Provide in Helping Families Find Childcare?
• Mayor’s Mailbag – July 2023 Roundup – Bird Eggs in LaSalle Park; & Cooling Centres
• Mayor’s Mailbag – June 2023 Roundup – Mountainside Pool Reopening; Dissolution of Peel Region; & Bateman Redevelopment Project Updates
• Mayor’s Mailbag – May 2023 Roundup – Beachway Free Parking Pass; Twin-City Agreements; & ‘TellCityHall’ Automated Calls
• Mayor’s Mailbag – April 2023 Roundup – Parking Permit Program Update; Spring Cleanup; & Mayor’s Chamber Award Update
• Mayor’s Mailbag – March 2023 Roundup – Recognizing a Cause/Event, Burlington City Crest, & Windrows/Snow-Clearing
• Mayor’s Mailbag – February 2023 Roundup – City Winter Service Levels, Tax Support for Seniors on Fixed Incomes, & Support Accessing Recreation Programs
• Mayor’s Mailbag – January 2023 Roundup – Mental Health Resources, Arts & Culture Fund, & Homelessness Support
• Mayor’s Mailbag – December 2022 Roundup – Bill 23, Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund, & Winter Storm Updates