Bacterial Wetwood - Slime Flux
Bacterial Wetwood is a constant weepy - often slimy ooze coming from a wound in a tree (most often a cut limb or at a split in the trunk). The reason for the constant discharge is an anaerobic (fancy word for as bacteria that can live in little or no oxygen) bacteria that feed on the sap and keep the wound from healing. Sometimes aerobic (bacteria that like oxygen) bacteria add to the problem gross look by feeding on the sap on the surface. The anaerobic bacteria often are deep into the wood and produce gas and that puts pressure on the flowing sap causing it to flow out.
There is no control although a perforated pipe can sometimes be inserted immediately beside the wound to release some of the gas pressure and this may allow the original wound to heal but no guarantees. Also. occasionally a good hard winter knocks the bacteria back enough that the tree can get ahead of it and the wound will start to heal. Wetwood is common in Mulberry and Manitoba Maple but can also be found in Norway Maple
Constant ooze emanating from a wound from a Norway Maple is a give away of Bacterial Wetwood