Oak wilt
Oak wilt found in Canada
Oak wilt has been found in the following locations:
- City of Niagara Falls, Ontario (first confirmed detection of oak wilt in Canada);
- Township of Springwater, Ontario;
- Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
To help prevent the spread of these detections, movement restrictions are in place on affected properties. We are working with other federal, provincial and municipal governments to survey the areas and determine next steps.
Oak wilt is a disease caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum. Red oaks are particularly susceptible, resulting in tree death within a single season. Oak wilt is spread naturally through root grafts or beetles carrying fungal spores. Oak wilt does not affect human or animal health.
What you can do
- Don't prune oak trees between April and November
- Don't move firewood
- Report suspected signs to the CFIA
- Check oak trees for signs of oak wilt
Signs of oak wilt
The signs of oak wilt are:
- Dull green, brown or yellow leaves
- Cracks in the trunk
- White, grey or black fungus
- Early and sudden leaf drop
More information
- Report of oak wilt in Niagara Falls, Ontario (2023)
- Pest fact sheet
- Oak wilt response framework for Canada
- Science bulletin: Early warning research verifies the oak wilt threat is real
Policy directives
- D-08-04: Plant protection import requirements for plants and plant parts for planting
- D-01-12: Phytosanitary Requirements for the Importation and Domestic Movement of Firewood
- D-99-03: Phytosanitary Measures to Prevent the Entry of Oak Wilt Disease (Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt) from the Continental United States
- D-98-08: Entry Requirements for Wood Packaging Material into Canada
- Date modified: