Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Officials are urging Michigan residents to take steps to prevent the spread of oak wilt.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says people should avoid pruning red oak trees from this week until after July 15.
Oak wilt hasn't been detected in every Michigan county. But Roger Mech, forest health monitoring program manager for the DNR's Forest Resources Division, says vigilance is needed across the state to prevent it from spreading further.
Oak wilt is a fungal disease that kills red oak trees. It's transported by beetles.
The DNR recommends that anyone who suspects they have oak wilt-tainted firewood should cover it with a plastic tarp all the way to the ground, leaving no openings. That will help destroy the fungus.
___
Online:
Details on oak wilt: http://1.usa.gov/1gUP3KM
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
