Madison confirms oak wilt at Meadow Ridge park, starts containment | The Locally Times
Published · The Locally Times
Parks staff found the fungal disease in summer 2026 and are girdling trees this fall under Wisconsin DNR guidance to stop its underground spread.
Madison Parks staff confirmed oak wilt, a fungal disease that kills oak trees, at Meadow Ridge Conservation Park after finding dead and wilting red oaks there in summer 2026. Samples from three trees were tested by the UW Extension Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic, which confirmed the trees were infected with oak wilt. The October 8, 2026 Parks Division post says red oak species usually die within months of infection, and the fungus spreads both by sap-feeding beetles and through root grafts between nearby oaks. Because there is no cure, the disease must be contained by removing healthy trees around the infestation, according to the post. Following Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources oak wilt management guidance, Parks staff measured the diameter of each tree at Meadow Ridge and assessed whether its roots could connect to an infected tree through root grafting. Trees closely connected underground to infected trees were marked, girdled, and treated with herbicide to kill their roots quickly. A DNR Forest Health Specialist confirmed the containment plan is appropriate and necessary, the post states. Some healthy red oaks in and near the containment area were evaluated by staff and an independent arborist, and could be treated with a fungicide that suppresses the fungus. Girdling is happening this fall, and many dead trees will be removed this winter, with some left standing for habitat. In 2027, staff plan to control invasive species on the site, including Asian bittersweet, garlic mustard, and hedge parsley, and in 2028 they will begin planting white and bur oak saplings to preserve the oak woodland habitat.