WILL OAK WILT KILL
ST. GERMAIN'S OAK TREES?
The town board recently received an advisory from the Conover, WI based "Partners in Forestry Co-op" concerning the threat of oak wilt disease to oak trees in Vilas County and what towns can do to slow the spread of this epidemic.
Oak wilt was first discovered in southern WI in 1944 and has been expanding northward since. An infected tree was found in the Town of Conover this fall. That tree is believed to have been injured by a road crew resulting in the disease affecting the tree.
The St. Germain Public Works Department crew will be advised to avoid trimming oak trees from mid-April through mid-July of each year and to apply paint to any fresh wound if inadvertent tree damage occurs. Private property owners are encouraged to familiarize themselves with preventive practices prior to the arrival of spring.