Oak Wilt Fungus Threatens Region

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The red oak family could face devastating losses if a fast-spreading fungus called oak wilt is not controlled, local arborists say.

For the past 15 years, oak wilt has affected the Midwest, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, scattered parts of the South and Texas.

Locally, several stands of trees that include oaks with wilt have been identified. In April, two acres of oaks were removed from Frick Park. Several oaks in Highland Park and South Park were symptomatic last year and will be confirmed this week, said Phil Gruszka of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Read full article