Deadly, incurable & fast spreading oak wilt disease detected in Brooklyn trees
DEC issues emergency orders for protective zones
A disease that kills oak trees and spreads like wildfire has been detected in Brooklyn.
The news has sent shock waves through the borough’s tree experts and arbor groups. Many of the borough’s oaks are massive and more than a century old, providing shade and character to streets and parks and a habitat for birds and other animals.
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) sent out a bulletin on Thursday saying that the disease, oak wilt, which is caused by a fungus, was identified by the Cornell Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic after samples from oak trees showing symptoms were collected by DEC technicians. Symptoms include leaves wilting, turning brown and dropping off, followed by the death of the tree. Infected trees were also detected in Long Island.