Site Discussions

Jane,

Many reasons.

1.  Wood burns and keeps our house warm.  It is a renewable power source that when replanted can resequester carbon.
2.  The tree is dead and at risk of falling on someone or something like my house.  I suppose I could wait for it to fall so you can help pay for my new roof through your insurance premiums, but I’m not that sleazy.
3.  The tree has partly fallen down but not completely with the same risks as number 2.
4.  To pretend we are Paul Bunyan.  It is fun to do.  Everyone should have the experience of felling a tree at least once in their life.  My girls will.
5.  Some trees are junk trees with little to no benefit for certain animal/plant habitats that are being encouraged.  Removing specific trees can help open the canopy.
6.  To remove invasive species.
7.  To clear land for improvements (house, driveway, garden, pool, etc.)
8.  To harvest trees for wood products/lumber.  Search for Alaskan Chainsaw Mill.  Anyone can do it.  Or hire someone with a portable mill.
9.  Because some people prefer the look of a manicured park to wild growth forest.
10.  Because not every tree provides shade or is adequate for hanging a swing.  Plus if I put up a swing on every tree I owned - it would be swing pollution.  (Hint I have 5 acres of trees.)

These were just 10 quick reasons off the top of my head.  Please actually think before you post.  I have never met anyone who doesn’t love trees.  But there are valid reasons to remove them just like there are valid reasons to use electricity from coal, nuclear, wind, and water power.  That is unless you want to live in the Stone Age without fire in a mud hut.  But then again, maybe you live somewhere warm year round.

But anything can be taken to an extreme or done wrong.  I’m just grateful there are sites like this to help keep people safe.

Hi Nancy. The short answer to your question is no. It’s not uncommon for trees to take years off, for a variety of reasons. Based on a comment that preceded yours, it seems like there was a heavy cedar seed year last year in Ontario, which makes a down year this year even more likely.

I have some of these critters in my basement, I was wondering whether or not I should put them outside, I don’t think there is any food for them in my basement. My nephew even found dead bugs to fling into their web so they stay alive! (He’s 6) Should I capture and let them outside to freedom or just leave them alone?

There are no seeds on the cedar trees in our area on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Is this an indicator of a problem with these trees?

September 19, 2018 7:00 a.m. Sitting in my northwest entry way I started noticing what appeared to be dragonflies coming from northwest traveling overhead to southeast…and they kept coming for over twenty minutes.  I have never seen anything like this for dragonflies;my curiosity lead me to look into it..thank you for this infor…a cold front is predicted in the next 24 hoursten

Snakes are either venomous, or non-venomous, but they’re not poisonous…unless perhaps you eat one.
As a general rule, venom is injected, poison is ingested.

Maybe it has something to do with the wolves that were introduced in the 1990’s. I understand now they have been seen in the willow flats… I would assume no moose will be spotted in the Oxbow Bend area anymore.

I’m so glad to find other insect lovers who will not kill on sight any bug they see, esp spiders. My parents have even gently evicted black widows far from their home, but they let the others stay, like wolf spiders etc

Spent my life teaching skiing. We were taught that the average daily temperature in July has to be above 50 degrees. This does neatly explain all the discrepancies in treeline elevation.

Hi Ian - with the disclaimer that it’s best to leave all our native herps outdoors, where you found them - I’m skeptical that the all seasons room will work. The sides and bottom of the aquarium will be chilled, correct? So I don’t think what you’re describing, would have the same temperature moderating effect as a natural burrow beneath the frost line.

I have a black swallowtail laying eggs today 9 /12/18 what do I do? She had laid 36 eggs in early summer which turned into caterpillars I left them on the host plant and a cardinal ate every one.

Hi, I’m wondering if my two toads can winter in their aquarium in our all seasons room, given enough soil to dig in to cover themselves? We have kept them since they were very tiny, in the all seasons room, so they would feel the seasons as they occur. Do you have any thoughts on this topic that you would please share with my family? Thank you very much.

P.S. They are very good at burying themselves now, and hiding under the mulch or wood we put in their space.

I like Mr Cadreact’s comment about how finding markets for low grade material is like weeding a garden.  Those low grade markets are so critical to meet stand tending and fuels reduction objectives.  It’s usually fairly easy to find outlets for the large stems but if that’s your only market, high grading becomes an issue, government budgets are used to meet management objectives or the work simply doesn’t get done.  We could manage our forests in all regions of the country much more effectively if we had solid markets for low grade material.  With the forest health/fire issues we are having throughout the country, you would think government officials would want to develop those kinds of markets rather than minimalize it.

Dad welded an 8lb maul head to a thick metal pole. Sharpened it too, not too thin. That thing is the best wood splitter you’d ever see. Just got done with 2 cords of knotty oak.  Didn’t stand a chance.  Tired as hell though.

My 2cents.

Have fun split’n!

Good evening,  I am over the hill from you in East Corinth. Why does there seem to be many less apples this year on my wild trees than previous years?  I’m surprised at how many less there is…..someone told me wild apple trees only produce every other year?  Truth in that?  Thanks

I really liked the toad article. I have seen at least 3 types around my yards gardens and sheds. It’s a lot of work keeping my small dog from hunting them and pawing at them. I have to move them to safety constantly, which I don’t mind.

I am always delighted to see the dragonflies.  I love the ones with black and white winds.  Sometimes I forget their names, but thanks to the internet I refresh my memory.  Our state is full of them at every park I visit.
Happy end of the summer 2018.

We have a red fox that looks like these pictures.  He has fur, just very short. He has been happily cruising our Kent Island, MD back yard (8 acres, half clear).  We have never seen him scratch.  He has been here since early spring and just keeps on going.  Tail sticks straight out.  He does not act like he is in distress.

Two weeks ago I saw a HUGE butterfly.  The description of the yellow dots along the front of the wings is the only thing I can say I saw besides marveling at the size.  Huge!  He went for the Joe Pye Weeds and the phlox before flying away in large ‘jumps’ settling on top of a leaf in the shade abt. 3-4 ft off the ground.  It folded it wings and I could see black lines outlining what looked beige-ish fields.  The only thing I didn’t see were the tails.  Could it have been a newly emerged Swallow Tail?  All I can say is that I have never ever seen such a huge butterfly.

I thoroughly enjoyed the article.  Gave me a whole new perspective on bird behavior. When I canoe on the Contoocook,  I will keep my eyes focused on the riverbanks!

Thank you Ms Morrissey for your research and excellent writing.