Our large beech trees are dead and dying. Late last summer, we noticed leaves withering and falling before their time. This year, the dying and dead trees are very noticeable. We have some beautiful big ones on the property. They are one of my favourite trees, those smooth, grey-barked beauties. The trees are succumbing to Beech Bark Disease. The disease is caused by an introduced beech scale insect from Europe, that has enabled a native nectria fungus to find a new host in beech trees. The insect makes holes that allows the fungus to attack the tree.
We have been harvesting the dead trees, so at least they can be used for firewood.
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