MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN - The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is advising people to exercise caution in order to prevent the spread of oak wilt disease.

Oak trees, particularly red oak trees, can die within few weeks after becoming infected.

It's just a fungus that in red oak that actually kills the tree and white oaks you'll see really large limbs die and those fall, so, it's really serious disease. It can spread pretty easily and it's especially deadly for the red oaks," Kelsey Dillon, Land Stewardship Assistant of Meridian Township Parks and Recreation said.

If an oak tree becomes infected there are certain steps necessary to follow in order to stop the disease from spreading more.

The DNR recommends covering the infected tree with a tarp all the way to the ground leaving no openings, which as a result will keep the beetles away and generate heat inside and kill the fungus.

The DNR prohibits the pruning of trees on state-managed land from mid-April to mid-July due to the fungus being the most prominent during this time.

"The reason were particularly worried about the April through early July period is that is when the fungus is most prominent and being capable of being transmitted by these small sap beetles," David L. Roberts, Ph.D., Senior Academic Specialist of Michigan State University said.

By prohibiting pruning during these months it helps protect red oak trees left after thinning from damage that could lead to infection.

For private forest landowers, the DNR recommends delaying harvesting activity until after July 15 in order to reduce the risk of oak wilt.

For additional information visit the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/dnr.