Winter is an ideal time to prune or remove oak trees, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Now through February, oaks can be pruned or cut without risk of spreading oak wilt. Oak wilt is an invasive fungal disease deadly to all the state’s oak species.
“Oak wilt is very expensive to treat, but prevention is often effective and much less costly — even free,” said Brian Schwingle, a DNR forest health program consultant. “One of the best ways to help protect oaks is to do necessary pruning or cutting in winter, which is the safest season to avoid risk of infection.”
The disease is more common in east-central and southeast Minnesota, but it is expanding north and west.
It’s spread by sap-feeding beetles that carry spores from infected trees to fresh wounds of healthy trees.
-
Lorie Shaull/KAXEA proposal to restrict city employees from serving on the council was postponed until after the election, which returned an affected incumbent and saw a leading proponent lose his mayoral bid. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy is appealing the second city-conducted environmental review for Google's proposed Hermantown data center. -
The Department of Natural Resources will join partners in the area to celebrate Gov. Tim Walz's opener on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe 0.01% difference between candidates easily meets the criteria for a publicly funded recount. -
Contributed/Nicole Neri / Minnesota ReformerVoters elected at least 10 new Democratic senators, already the largest incoming class of elected first-time Democratic senators in 40 years, with results from Alaska and Mississippi still outstanding. -
Contributed/Nicole Neri / Minnesota ReformerKlobuchar will have 60 days before her January inauguration to staff her office, draft a two-year budget and turn her campaign talking points into legislation. -
Plus: Walz to open administration's final deer season in Grand Rapids. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEHermantown City Council incumbent Andy Hjelle lost the 2026 election to Emma Richtman and Candi Mock. Newcomers Kris Eilers and Timothy Mattson won in their districts for St. Louis County Board of Commissioners. -
Colleen Bakken, Jenny Frenzel and Carol L. Johnson were the top three candidates in the Bemidji School Board election on Nov. 3, 2026. -
Graphic/KAXEVoters across Clearwater County cast ballots for the next Clearwater County Sheriff and Auditor-Treasurer.
