cork trees mysteriously dying

I just read an article in the newspaper about a mysterious loss of cork trees in Portugal. According to the baffled researchers, the trees have begun drying up at an alarming rate. They are not yet sure if the deaths are due to a diease or to climatic factors.

So maybe we'll be seeing a surge in alternative closures in the next year? (As a slightly humorous note, as soon as I read the article, I had an image disgruntled winos sneaking around Portugal and spraying all the trees with some type of liquid in a bottle with a big skull and crossbones on it. I have a strange sense of humor, I guess.)