The City of Saskatoon is reporting three infected elm trees in the Montgomery neighborhood, two in Riversdale, one in Caswell Hill and cases also in City Park and Sutherland.

The trees are being removed and disposed of at the City landfill. Trees within a one-kilometre area of a positive Dutch Elm Disease case will be sampled and there will be increased surveillance of the surrounding areas.

Dutch Elm Disease is caused by a fungus that closes the elm tree’s water and nutrient system, and eventually causes the tree to die. The disease is spread by several species of elm bark beetles that can only travel long distances in fire wood.

Elms make up 25 percent of the urban forest in Saskatoon. More detailed information about Dutch Elm Disease prevention can be found here.