Maine Detects First Known Case Of Beech Leaf Disease

MAINE PUBLIC • June 7, 2021

State regulators say that a relatively new disease that attacks beech trees has been located for the first time in Maine. It's called beech leaf disease and has caused the decline and mortality of beech species from Ohio to Southern New England since it was first discovered in 2012. Aaron Bergdahl, Maine Forest Service pathologist, says, "We don't know how it spreads, we don't know how it can be controlled- we've really gone from trees exhibiting no symptoms last year to trees exhibiting really advanced symptoms this year."