Police are investigating the killing of seven mature trees on the Burke Gilman Trail this week. The 70-foot tall poplars and Doug Firs were found with quarter-inch holes drilled in their trunks, indicating that they were probably lethally injected with herbicide. These trees were worth up to $60,000, and park staffers say replacements will take 30 years to reach maturity. It isn't the first case of damage to trees on public property this year. In fact, it's getting downright scary out there for local conifers. While suspicion usually falls on homeowners who get a better view out of the deal, the P-I reports that it's often hard to pin down the culprit. But anyone accused is likely to become unpopular. Seattleites seem passionate about their trees. Over in Fremont recently, they created a memorial for a weeping poplar that was hacked by a property owner. One woman told the press: "It's only asphalt out there. The tree was the only saving grace."
Tree-killer on the loose
Police are investigating the killing of seven mature trees on the Burke Gilman Trail this week. The 70-foot tall poplars and Doug Firs were found with quarter-inch holes drilled in their trunks, indicating that they were probably lethally injected with herbicide. These trees were worth up to $60,000, and park staffers say replacements will take 30 years to reach maturity. It isn't the first case of damage to trees on public property this year. In fact, it's getting downright scary out there for local conifers. While suspicion usually falls on homeowners who get a better view out of the deal, the P-I reports that it's often hard to pin down the culprit. But anyone accused is likely to become unpopular. Seattleites seem passionate about their trees. Over in Fremont recently, they created a memorial for a weeping poplar that was hacked by a property owner. One woman told the press: "It's only asphalt out there. The tree was the only saving grace."
Again, outrageous behavior by a few who have only their own selfish needs to gratify. Can we hang the offenders from the nearest surviving tree?
So we are having Seattle's finest go out and investigate the "murder" of trees. nice. we could be spending the money on something else like finding a cure for cancer or aids but instead we are mourning the "murder" of a few trees. WTF people. this is so messed up. and darn that b@stard who killed these innocent trees. they are just trees. i might even give these "murderers" an attaboy for exposing the stupidity of the people in charge. that is all.
DAN - last time I checked, the police upheld the law; they don't find cures for diseases...that's done by doctors, so I don't know what you are so up in arms about. I wouldn't go so far as to say the trees were "murdered," but they were killed. Considering their size, how long they take to grow, and the estimated costs of each of them, darn right I hope the person(s) who did this are caught. Maybe you think breaking the law is fun, but thank goodness, for the rest of us, we'd rather have our fellow citizens respect the law and act DECENTLY.
Actually, the last time i was in the back of a cop car, they cured my lukemia and gave me a root canal. Maybe the cops are just a little more trained down in Olympia where i live.