The Belle Isle Park in Detroit is currently going through some hard time as despite being one of the best attractions in the city, its trees are suffering through an infectious disease. The famous oak trees in the park are now on the verge of dying as oak wilt currently infecting them.
Infectious Disease Causes Turmoil In Ancient Oak Trees In Detroit City In Michigan
The Belle Isle Park is currently one of the tourist attractions in the city of Detroit in the state of Michigan. There are currently hundreds of oak trees in the area, a kind of tree which is highly known for its old age which could now be probably centuries old. However, the city of Detroit is currently suffering as their ancient trees are being infected by a kind of tree disease known as the oak wilt that is causing the oak trees to suffer a slow and painful death.
The oak wilt is caused by a fungus that causes the oak trees to slowly die down, symptoms including leaf discoloration, defoliation and will eventually lead to death. The disease is spread through insects or by its connecting roots. That is what the oak trees at Belle Isle Park are currently suffering in, to which the authorities of the city are managing their way to save them. It has been reported that the Department of Natural Resources is currently using a special kind of blade that will cut the roots affected by the wilt and prevent it from spreading through the entire tree that it holds. This is also to avoid the infection from spreading to the rest of its neighbouring oak trees.
Hundreds Of Trees Need To Be Cut Down To Save Other Healthy Trees In Belle Isle Park
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources have counted up to 120 trees affected by the oak wilt, and they need to be removed from the park to avoid infecting the other healthy trees. It has clearly disappointed the state to have hundreds of trees removed from their prime, but they are left with no choice as they have to do it in order to save the others that have remained. Other than Detroit City, the issue on the oak wilt has already affected ore cities in the state, but have devastated many as Belle Isle Park has been known to be one of the prime parks holding nature's oldest trees.
