Dec. 3—Spurred on by two rainy years, the spread of sudden oak death in Marin and 18 California counties is back on the rise — this time with an aggressive new strain invading the Bay Area.

Debbie Mendelson examines a bay laurel for possible symptoms of sudden oak death along Todo El Mundo in Woodside on Dec. 13, 2024. Photo by Magali Gauthier. This November, researchers discovered ...