The City of Regina is seeing an early season surge of Dutch elm disease (DED).
City officials have confirmed 17 cases so far in 2025, with seven alone occurring this week.
“We’re [seeing this] a little bit earlier than normal, and it may be because of a drought,” said Ray Morgan, City of Regina acting manager of parks and open space services.
According to total precipitation report, Regina only received 46.8mm of rain in June. Typically, the city sees nearly 100mm in that same span.
Morgan said the drought has caused trees to be weak, which can make them more susceptible to infections.
“When they [beetles] sense a tree is weak, that’s where they find an opening and they may use that tree as a host.”
Other factors for this higher rate include firewood, which beetles use as a host.
This can lead to DED being spread to new areas or cities.
Regina has seen a recent upward trend of DED. In 2024, there were 85 confirmed cases, 36 of those coming before the end of July.
The city has a large elm tree population, with approximately 180,000, and 60,000 of those being American elm trees.
Identifying DED
DED is mainly spread by elm bark beetles that carry the disease. Once the beetle is inside an elm tree’s vascular system, the disease gets into it and starts choking off the vascular system.
This eventually could lead to the death of a tree.
Morgan said there are several indicators of DED.
One is a specific elm tree branch starting to turn yellow or brown. Another indicator is the wood portion of a tree’s bark being stained.
If a tree is suspected to have DED, Morgan noted that Regina takes a sample and submits it to a lab. Test results then take about seven to 10 days to determine confirmation of DED.
The city will also take samples of a tree if a homeowner suspects DED.
Preventing DED
While there are no cures for DED, there are ways to prevent it, including:
- Report suspected cases to Service Regina at 306-777-7000 or online at Regina.ca.
- Not storing, transporting or using elm wood as per provincial regulations.
- Inspecting trees regularly for signs of wilting, yellowing leaves or sudden branch dieback, especially in summer.
- Avoiding elm pruning between April 1 and Aug. 31, when DED-carrying beetles are most active.
Any tree cut down by the city is replaced with a different one.
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