SASKATOON – Dutch elm disease has been discovered in a Saskatoon tree. City officials said an infected elm tree was found in the Queen Elizabeth neighbourhood.
It’s the first time Dutch elm disease has been found in the city.
Officials have their suspicions on how it got here.
“It is transported primarily through firewood, so we suspect that this was the case, that there was some infected firewood brought into the city,” said Darren Crilly, the director of parks for the city.
Crews have started removing the tree and inspectors will search nearby yards in an effort to pinpoint a source as part of the city’s response plan.
Five additional elm bark beetle adult pheromone traps will also be placed in the surrounding area to monitor bark beetle populations.
“Dutch Elm Disease is a serious disease of the American elm,” said Crilly.
“The disease was introduced into North America in the 1930s, and has wiped out millions of elms across Canada and the United States. Dutch elm disease has been present in Saskatchewan since the 1980s and Saskatoon remained free of it, until now.”
READ MORE: Regina confirms four cases of Dutch elm disease
There are ways to prevent Dutch elm disease:
- not pruning elm trees during the provincial pruning ban that runs from April 1 to Aug. 31;
- not storing or transporting any elm firewood, which is prohibited by provincial regulations; and
- disposing of all elm wood at the city landfill.
Infected trees can start showing symptoms as early as June. Leaves typically start to wilt and turn yellow, then curl and turn brown. Anyone noticing these symptoms is asked to contact pest management at 306-975-3300.
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