Oak tree decline in Manitoba getting worse, arborist says
Experts are sounding the alarm over Manitoba’s oak tree population.
The bur oaks, which are native to the area, have been in decline for decades but arborists say the problem is only getting worse.
Gerry Engel, arborist and president of Trees Winnipeg, has been keeping a close eye on a treasured oak tree in his Charleswood neighbourhood for several years.
“Part of the tree has declined,” Engel said, pointing to a weak spot on the trunk of the tree.
The towering tree is estimated to be some 200-years-old, but Engel said it’s in decline and the prognosis is poor. He said it’s a sign of a much bigger problem in the province.
“Overall the last several years we’ve noticed a huge increase in the decline of the health of our oak trees,” Engel said.
According to Trees Winnipeg, visible symptoms of oak decline include the dieback of leaves and major limbs of the tree’s canopy.
Engel said a combination of factors are to blame including an insect that lives in the tree called the two-lined chestnut borer, as well as drought and urban development.
“These trees were here when the communities were built, so we’ve changed their environment entirely,” he said.
One example is the replacement of undergrowth with turf grass, leaving the sensitive root systems of oak trees exposed. Oak decline’s a problem Engel said isn’t getting the same attention as Dutch Elm Disease or the Emerald Ash Borer.
“The oak’s kind of been the silent one but it’s speaking now and it’s showing us and telling us I’m not well, either,” Engel said.
The issue of dying oak trees is one the City of Winnipeg said its urban forestry department has observed and is investigating.
“Multiple samples have been taken by urban forestry and private industry to assess for disease and no causal pathogens have been detected,” the city said. “It is suspected to be resulting from a combination of very dry conditions in recent years, exposure of older oaks to urban conditions, and many years of oak decline, however urban forestry is continuing to investigate.”
The Manitoba government said its forestry branch is also on the case.
“The branch has conducted surveys in areas that are reported to have oak mortality and will be examining those areas in more detail,” the province said. “At this time we are not aware of any new insect or disease that is known to be impacting the oaks population in Manitoba.”
Engel said one solution may be re-naturalization of developed areas.
“I think Wellington Crescent is a great example,” he said. “Take a block or two and naturalize that space under these stressing oak trees and see what kind of an effect that will have going forward.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
The Indian couple killed in a wrong-way police chase crash on Highway 401 earlier this week has been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.