Oak Wilt

Oak wilt is...

...caused by the fungus (Ceratocystis fagacearum) and is currently not found in North Dakota, though it is found as close as southeastern Minnesota.  It is responsible for considerable oak mortality among trees in the red oak species group. Oaks in the white oak group, including our native bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), have a much greater resistance to oak wilt. Due to the poor adaptability of the red oak group to environmental conditions in North Dakota, oak wilt is not expected to be a significant threat to our area in the foreseeable future. 

Oak wilt is spread to new areas by beetles and by humans who transport infected oak firewood.  Once an oak tree is infected, the fungus can travel from tree to tree via root grafts.

Why is oak wilt a problem?

• At this time oak wilt is not considered to be of major concern due to the lack of a red oak group host population in North Dakota.
• Oak wilt could become a significant future problem in the event that new red oak group cultivars are developed for our region.

 More information about oak wilt: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_oakwilt/toc.htm