Courtesy of the Wisconsin DNR
A deadly disease affecting oak trees has been found in Manitowoc County for the first time ever.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of oak wilt in an oak tree in the Town of Mishicot that was planted back in the 1980s, a
The property owner contacted the DNR after noticing symptoms of the deadly disease.
Currently, the tree remains the only confirmed oak wilt infection in the county, with the nearest other infections falling about 20 miles away in Brown County.
On how this may have happened, Bill McNee, a DNR forest health specialist, explained, “It’s possible that oak wilt has been present in the area at low levels for many years. Alternatively, someone could have recently introduced the disease into the local area through infected oak firewood or logs.”
It is expected that oak wilt impacts in Manitowoc County will be limited, with oak trees making up roughly 1%-2% of the County’s tree population
Signs to look for in an infected tree include finding wilted leaves on the ground appearing bronze and green in mid- to late summer.
More information on the matter can be found by visiting dnr.wisconsin.gov.
