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.
-
Plus: Minnesota nonprofit offers $25K reward for information on Wadena disappearance; and Bemidji Mayor Jorge Prince accepts award for disaster leadership. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEBemidji Mayor Jorge Prince accepted the Tommy Longo Disaster Leadership Award from LeadersLink during the Bemidji City Council meeting on June 15, 2026. -
Contributed/Minnesota Bureau of Criminal ApprehensionCarla Beth Anderson, a 23-year-old woman, was last seen nearly 40 years ago at her Wadena apartment. Despite hundreds of leads and interviews, no arrests have been made in her disappearance. -
Plus: Itasca County reuses flag poles to fly new and old state flags; Crow Wing County adds 10 license plate readers to Flock Safety network; and Red Lake County takes 2nd in state baseball tourney.
-
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe county avoided buying new flag poles by flying the current and former Minnesota flags on poles that were previously used for a memorial. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEThe formal move on June 8, 2026, follows discussion on the perpetual vacancies and rising costs of operating a rural police force. -
Contributed/Eagle Rebel Activities on XThe Rebels entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and defending champions. South Ridge, Grand Rapids and Aitkin also competed in the tournament. -
Contributed/St. Louis County Sheriff's Office Facebook pageThe St. Louis County Sheriff's Office identified William Helgemoe, 56, as the rider killed on Industrial Road on June 12, 2026. -
This is the Up North Lookback, where we’re digging into the local news archives from 50 years ago — the year KAXE was born. It’s the week of June 15.
-
And: COVID learning woes still haunt MN kids' well-being.
