Hazard Trees

Beware of of trees that have become hazardous due to storm damage and Southern pine beetle infestation.

• Be aware of your surroundings. Trees can fall without warning. Look up for trees with broken limbs or tops. Do not stand or camp under leaning trees.
• Numerous down or leaning trees may indicate structural defects. Avoid dense patches of dead trees. Limbs and damaged trees may fall at any time. Absence of needles, bark or limbs may also indicate structural defects. The possibility of rot is indicated by conks, broken tops, basal scars, cat faces, numerous down limbs, ants or an abundance of woodpecker holes.
• Beware of hazardous trees due to ice storm or insect damage. Ice storms can inflict serious damage to trees—uprooting or breaking off large limbs. Cracks can develop in large branches which, although damaged, might not fall from the tree. Such branches can present a hazard to people or property long after the ice has melted.
• Strong winds may weaken unstable trees. Be particularly watchful when it is windy or following a snowstorm when branches are covered with snow. Stay out of the forest when there are strong winds that could blow down trees. If you are already in the forest when winds kick up, head to a clearing out of reach of any potential falling trees.
• Park close to a main road rather than on a spur or one-way section when driving in remote areas of the forest to avoid being trapped if a tree falls across the road.
• Camp in open spaces. Place tents and camp sites in areas where they will not be hit if a tree falls.
• Do not rely on cell phones for safety. Often there is no coverage in many areas of the national forest.
• Report hazardous trees. Contact authorities with location and information if you find a tree that presents a likely hazard, such as near a trail or camp site.

Watch for Dead Trees!

CAUTION! As a result of the southern pine beetle (SPB) epidemic, thousands of dead pine trees across the landscape are creating hazards in the form of falling branches and tree snags. These “hazard trees” have the potential of causing severe personal injury or death. Hazard trees are especially cause for concern near campgrounds, trails, roads and powerline rights-of-way.

Periods of high wind increase the chances for falling branches and dead tree snags. As a precaution, forest areas damaged by SPB should be avoided especially during high wind. Any snag can be dangerous any time, but dead pines tend to deteriorate more rapidly. Their wood is softer than deciduous hardwood trees, which makes them more susceptible to wind throw.

Forest managers are concerned about the debris from dead and dying trees now covering the forest floor. This debris dramatically increases the fuel load in these areas, which may create severe conditions in the event of a wildfire. Concern is heightened for firefighters, public safety and the lives and property on private lands adjacent to national forests.   

Efforts to remove hazard trees from recreation areas and along roads are ongoing. Priority areas for treatment have been established across the forest, targeting those areas with the most public use. While the task is daunting with a vast number of dead trees, the forest works to remove hazard trees regularly. SPB-infested stands adjoining private lands have also been identified for fuel hazards.