Saskatoon officials are confirming the city’s first case of Dutch Elm Disease.
Darren Crilly, the city’s parks director, told media Tuesday evening an infected tree was recently found in the Queen Elizabeth neighbourhood.
A sample sent to a provincial lab confirmed the disease and crews began taking down the tree Tuesday.
“We are reacting immediately to this to ensure the removal of this diseased tree happens right away,” said Crilly.
Dutch Elm Disease, which has wiped out millions of elm trees in Canada and the U.S. since it was introduced in the 1930s, is spread by elm bark beetles and targets American elms.
Officials suspect the disease was transported into the city via infected firewood.
Jeff Boone, the city’s pest management supervisor, said Saskatoon has yet to see a case until now likely because the city is isolated by fields; no elm trees surround the city.
“Under the Dutch Elm Disease regulations, it’s not permitted to transport any elm material in the province of Saskatchewan,” Boone said. “The most important thing is elm firewood. That’s the primary way Dutch Elm Disease has moved around from region to region — especially in an area like Saskatoon where you have no connected elms to any other parts of the province.”
Wilting and yellowing leaves that eventually curl and turn brown months before autumn are the first signs of an infected tree.
The city’s next step is to monitor and test trees in the Queen Elizabeth neighbourhood in order to pinpoint the disease’s source, then to place elm bark beetle traps in the area.
The city advises residents to help prevent Dutch Elm Disease by not pruning elms between April 1 and Aug. 31, by not storing or transporting elm firewood, and by disposing of all elm wood at the city landfill.
