ABC TV-7 news reported last night that sudden oak death has made a comeback in Northern California oak woodlands.
"There is a resurgence of sudden oak death from Monterey through Mendocino, more than a million trees killed so far and that number rises daily. Those dead oaks can contribute to the fire danger and change the look of our forests in more ways than one. Experts say we're one major wildfire away from changing the look of some of our forests forever," says the story posted on the program's Web site.
The reporter went to UC Cooperative Extension natural resources advisor Steven Swain for expert comment.
He said the warm, wet springs of 2005 and 2006 has resulted in a new crop of dead tan oaks in the hills of Marin.
"(The fungus) stops the roots from feeding the leaves and the leaves from feeding the roots," Swain told the reporter.
In addition to the wildfire risk, dead trees threaten wildlife that rely on oak forests for food and shelter.
