I Love Nature and Trees But...

Oakman · 06-02-2018, 07:57 AM

It’s time for the 300 year old Burr Oak in the campground at Meramec State Park in Missouri to go. The only part of that tree that is still alive is the one limb that extends over the campground road. There is no way to drive around that limb without having some of the branches drag across the roof of high profile 5th wheel trailers. After a rain some branches hang as low at 10 feet. If they don’t want to remove the tree then at least they should extend the blacktop road away from the tree so it won’t cause damage to trailers. Missouri State Parks should also post a low clearance warning on the Meramec SP camping webpage.
Here are a couple of pics of the offending tree.

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EdJunior · 06-02-2018, 08:24 AM

Yeah, as much as I would hate to see a tree like that go, you are right. If it is done right, the wood could be re-purposed, or they could shape some kind of monument out of it. There's a lot that could be done to preserve the memory of it.

Oakman · 06-03-2018, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdJunior

Yeah, as much as I would hate to see a tree like that go, you are right. If it is done right, the wood could be re-purposed, or they could shape some kind of monument out of it. There's a lot that could be done to preserve the memory of it.

That's a good idea Ed. Perhaps they could turn it into a beautiful chainsaw carving.

Oakman · 06-03-2018, 12:54 PM

I was going through my old camping photos and found a picture of that same Burr Oak taken 10 years ago. Obviously the tree is dying and should be taken down before it falls down.

youroo · 06-03-2018, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oakman

I was going through my old camping photos and found a picture of that same Burr Oak taken 10 years ago. Obviously the tree is dying and should be taken down before it falls down.

Well that answers the question about the Tree! YOU Pushed it over until the Root system failed! Shame on you "Oakman",you shoud change your Name to "Tree Killer"!

Youroo!!

Oakman · 06-03-2018, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youroo

Well that answers the question about the Tree! YOU Pushed it over until the Root system failed! Shame on you "Oakman",you shoud change your Name to "Tree Killer"!

Youroo!!

Actually that's how I came up with my screen name. I'm the MAN that kills OAKs, hence Oakman.

Nurek · 06-03-2018, 02:19 PM

Public safety outweighs a "monument tree that could collapse in a breeze and kill someone".

EdJunior · 06-03-2018, 05:58 PM

After Hurricane Ike in 2008, most of the trees on Galveston Island were lost. But in their place came many cool and interesting tree carvings. Check out this page for just a few of them: https://galvestonislandguide.com/gal...ee-sculptures/

Oakman · 06-04-2018, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdJunior

After Hurricane Ike in 2008, most of the trees on Galveston Island were lost. But in their place came many cool and interesting tree carvings. Check out this page for just a few of them: https://galvestonislandguide.com/gal...ee-sculptures/

Those are some excellent tree carvings Ed. Something similar was done in Bay St. Louis and Waveland, MS after Hurricane Katrina came through.

jimmoore13 · 06-04-2018, 01:38 PM

You're gonna have to go through her.

timfromma · 06-04-2018, 01:43 PM

It is clearly dying. I would think they would want to take it down just just for the liability should it fall on someone unexpectedly.

reddiver · 06-04-2018, 02:56 PM

I've seen this at a couple of camps. I'm not sure what the problem is with taking them down. Surely they could be used to keep someone warm in the winter. Maybe they don't have a friend with a chain saw that will help them...poor sausages!.

RitaB · 06-04-2018, 04:09 PM

Unfortunately most people don't understand how to take care of older trees. If the ground around it becomes compacted, the water and nutrients can't reach the deep roots. This is why you often see a circle of mulch around a tree.

jimmoore13 · 06-04-2018, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddiver

I've seen this at a couple of camps. I'm not sure what the problem is with taking them down. Surely they could be used to keep someone warm in the winter. Maybe they don't have a friend with a chain saw that will help them...poor sausages!.

In a commercial campground, the issue may be removal by a licensed, insured tree specialist. The typical cost may exceed $1000.

FleckDreher · 06-04-2018, 06:13 PM

They need to take some cuttings from the live portion of the tree, re-plant them and then in 300 years they will have more trees of the same size.

No problem.

rockfossilman · 06-05-2018, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddiver

I've seen this at a couple of camps. I'm not sure what the problem is with taking them down. Surely they could be used to keep someone warm in the winter. Maybe they don't have a friend with a chain saw that will help them...poor sausages!.

We were camping at Parker Dam State Park in PA in early May. We witnessed the removal of a similar large oak tree that proved to be about 100 years old. Sad event to be sure, but it had become a hazard to campers.

It took three men over two days to remove the tree using a bucket truck. It can cost a couple thousand $ to remove a tree so large, but if someone is hurt or killed by a falling branch, the expense will be a lot more.

The pics show the bucket truck and some fool trying to move the bottom part of the tree after the hard work was done.

Oakman · 06-05-2018, 06:57 AM

When we returned from our camping trip I sent an email to MO State Parks along with some pictures of the tree suggesting they remove it. I have yet to hear back from them. If I don’t get a response today I plan to send another email on Wednesday.

Oakman · 06-05-2018, 04:41 PM

I received a response from MO State Parks and I think I'm calling BS. Here’s their response to my email.

"Thank you for contacting us.

I appreciate your concern and sending the photographs of the tree. Unfortunately, that tree is currently protected due to it also being a roosting tree for bats and we are under strict guidelines for not cutting any roost trees during the season. Because of this, park staff have blocked the road under the remaining living branch to prevent drivers from potentially damaging personal property. Once the last branch of the tree has died, staff will re-evaluate the situation to determine if the tree can be removed.
Jenn Wood
Missouri State Parks"

While I know bats can and do roost in trees, WNS has wiped out most of the bats in the area of Meramec State Park. Also about 100 yards from that tree is Fisher Cave which I believe the bats would prefer for roosting.

Iwannacamp · 06-05-2018, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oakman

I received a response from MO State Parks and I think I call BS. Here’s their response to my email.

"Thank you for contacting us.

I appreciate your concern and sending the photographs of the tree. Unfortunately, that tree is currently protected due to it also being a roosting tree for bats and we are under strict guidelines for not cutting any roost trees during the season. Because of this, park staff have blocked the road under the remaining living branch to prevent drivers from potentially damaging personal property. Once the last branch of the tree has died, staff will re-evaluate the situation to determine if the tree can be removed.
Jenn Wood
Missouri State Parks"

While I know bats can and do roost in trees, WNS has wiped out most of the bats in the area of Meramec State Park. Also about 100 yards from that tree is Fisher Cave which I believe the bats would prefer for roosting.

There is the trouble... bats. Not tree huggers but bat huggers.

EdJunior · 06-05-2018, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oakman

I received a response from MO State Parks and I think I'm calling BS. Here’s their response to my email.

"Thank you for contacting us.

I appreciate your concern and sending the photographs of the tree. Unfortunately, that tree is currently protected due to it also being a roosting tree for bats and we are under strict guidelines for not cutting any roost trees during the season. Because of this, park staff have blocked the road under the remaining living branch to prevent drivers from potentially damaging personal property. Once the last branch of the tree has died, staff will re-evaluate the situation to determine if the tree can be removed.
Jenn Wood
Missouri State Parks"

While I know bats can and do roost in trees, WNS has wiped out most of the bats in the area of Meramec State Park. Also about 100 yards from that tree is Fisher Cave which I believe the bats would prefer for roosting.

Soooo, what about when it's not "the season"? I didn't know bats had a "season", but whatever. If it's off season, seems like that would be a pretty good time to take care of it. But I suppose as long as they have good detour around the area, whatever works.

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