There is an immediate ban on transportation of unprocessed wood and wood products (firewood, chips, mulch, wreaths, etc.) from susceptible trees in infested areas.
The quarantine restricts movement, within or outside of the county, of any unprocessed wood, wood products, plants or plant parts from host species. The new regulations particularly affect woodcutters (from the professional to the firewood-gatherer) and nurseries.
Those who wish to transport any unprocessed wood, wood products, plants or plant parts that could carry the fungus are required to obtain permits from the county Department of Agriculture.
In addition, hikers and bicycle riders are cautioned to clean their boots, bike tires and pets' feet when leaving an infested area, and to make sure they don't take soil, water, or any woody material such as twigs or leaves out of the area.
Residents are asked to report suspected new cases of Sudden Oak Death to the county Department of Agriculture, or to file reports online at the web address listed below.
Host species identified to date are: tanoak, coast live oak, black oak, Shreve's oak, madrone, buckeye, California bay laurel, rhododendron, huckleberry, elderberry and arrowwood. Officials expect the list of hosts and sites to continue to grow. It is not known how the fungus is spread from one area to another. There is no known cure for the disease.
For more information, visit www.suddenoakdeath.org, or call the county Department of Agriculture, 463-4208.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2001
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited