Oak wilt found for first time in Milwaukee County park system
By Gino Recchia
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FRANKLIN, Wisconsin (WISN) — Milwaukee County Parks crews are moving fast to stop the spread of a deadly fungus discovered for the first time in the area. Roughly 30 oak trees at Whitnall Park are being cut down after the detection of oak wilt, a disease that can kill trees within weeks.
“It’s not unknown to the United States. It’s been around since the 1940s, starting in Texas, working its way up. But we haven’t had any in Milwaukee County Park property until now,” said Operations Manager Peter Bratt.
The fungus blocks a tree’s ability to move water from its roots to its canopy, causing the leaves to brown and wilt from the top down. It spreads both underground through connected roots and above ground through insects carrying fungal spores.
“The key is to really address it aggressively before it spreads to other adjacent oaks,” Bratt said.
Dark streaks or cracks in bark are other signs of oak wilt, and forestry officials urge residents to watch for symptoms in their neighborhoods.
“The good news is we have a lot of trained professionals who work on this. And other good news is we have a lot of partners for funding reforestation efforts.” Bratt said.
While it is tough to see so many trees come down, forestry crews say taking action now will save hundreds more in the long run. If parkgoers are concerned about trees in their area, they can contact Milwaukee County Parks at 414-257-7275.
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