The State Department of Environmental Conservation has expanded its oak wilt quarantine in parts of Yates and Ontario counties after additional infected trees were discovered.
State officials say two existing quarantine areas have now been combined into one larger district. The updated zone includes the entire towns of Middlesex, Italy, and South Bristol, along with parts of Bristol and Naples. The movement of oak wood out of the district is restricted to help prevent the disease from spreading.
“Oak wilt can have a devastating impact on private and state lands,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Expanding the quarantine district in the Finger Lakes is a necessary step to stop the spread of this destructive disease and protect the long-term health of our forests.”
Oak wilt is a fast-moving fungal disease that can quickly kill oak trees and threaten both forest ecosystems and local economies.
DEC first spotted signs of trouble during aerial surveys in July 2025, when discolored oak trees were observed. Testing by Cornell University’s Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic confirmed oak wilt at seven locations in the towns of Middlesex, Italy, South Bristol and Naples. Four sites were on private property and three were within the High Tor Wildlife Management Area.
Crews removed infected trees and, as a precaution, some nearby oaks. Stumps were treated with herbicide to kill the roots, and wood was chipped or burned to stop the fungus from spreading. DEC says it will continue monitoring the affected areas and plans to conduct aerial surveys for at least the next five years.
Under the quarantine rules, oak logs and branches cannot be moved out of the district unless they are chipped into pieces smaller than one inch. Non-oak wood is also restricted unless cut into lengths of 29 inches or more for identification. Limited permits are available to transport oak wood and firewood during the fall and winter.
A map and full details of the quarantine area are available on the DEC’s website.
