Trees occupy a part of your local ecosystem. They can supply a food source, shelter, or infrastructure for native wildlife. You might notice evidence of wildlife activity in the form of a hollow tree trunk in your yard.
Can the hole threaten the structural integrity? Or should you leave it alone? As your trusted tree service in Nashville, Tennessee, our team at Tree Care Inc. outlines your options below.
What Causes a Hollow Tree Trunk?
Cavity formation in mature trees happens for myriad reasons, but no matter the cause, trees can often withstand these holes. They may even be just as strong as trees that lack them. Many cavities form due to the following natural influences.
Previous Injuries
Lightning strikes, powerful winds, and human activity can injure otherwise healthy trees. For example, a thunderstorm produces lightning that hits an oak tree’s extended branch. That limb becomes so damaged that it falls off.
The tree’s immune defenses eliminate the old branch and any damaged tissue within the trunk. As a result, you’ll notice a hole. Some other injurious events include:
- Backing into a tree with a motor vehicle and leaving an indention.
- Strong winds pushing limbs at odd angles, forcing other areas to crack.
- Sudden temperature fluctuations, making trunk tissues expand and contract too quickly.
Opportunistic Infections
Fungi, bacteria, and viruses can affect all tree parts. They often gravitate toward already weakened tissues with lowered defenses. Once they gain a foothold, they infect the sickened tissues, causing trunk decay until the tree grows tougher heartwood and bark.
These opportunistic infections might go away on their own. However, you can find evidence of their residence via bark abnormalities or gaping cavities in the trunk.
Animal Activity
Finally, countless animals rely on trees for food and shelter. Some critters that can cause a hollow tree trunk include:
- Woodpeckers: These birds hunt for food by driving their strong beaks into the trunk. They extract insects and leave tiny holes behind, which might develop into larger injuries.
- Squirrels and chipmunks: A chipmunk or squirrel might intentionally create a tree hole by chewing at the bark. They create tunnels and shelters in which they can build nests.
- Beavers: A beaver colony might take trees down to build cozy dams. Sometimes, they chew into a trunk but never finish felling the tree, leaving a noticeable hole.
- Wood-boring beetles: These pests create tiny holes in trucks that serve as entrances to their complex network of tunnels.
- Deer: Stags may rub their antlers against trees during rutting season to shed the antler skin and leave their mark. Occasionally, this behavior may injure a tree enough to leave a hole.
- Rabbits: Rabbits feast on fresh growth each spring, and trees are the perfect target. They nip off low growths on immature saplings, which may fester into a hole with time.
The wildlife responsible for your tree trunk hole may vary, depending on your region and the human activity nearby.
Why You Should Keep Hollow Tree Trunks Around
Tree trunk holes may not always look aesthetically pleasing. Many property owners perceive them as potentially dangerous to the tree’s health. They fear the specimen may topple more easily because of the cavity.
However, not all trees with holes are dead or even structurally unsound. Healthy specimens will develop a stronger layer of tissue cells along the inside edges of the cavity. These cells prevent further injury and provide a stronger defense.
Plus, many native species depend on tree holes for survival. Since some property owners remove trees with trunk holes, these critters struggle to find adequate shelter and infrastructure to suit their needs. Which beneficial animals might you protect by keeping that hollowed tree?
- Bats may roost in tree holes. They help control mosquito populations.
- Eastern screech owls build nests in holed trunks. They feast on pesky rodents.
- Non-venomous snakes may also seek shelter in tree holes when regulating their temperatures. Like owls, kingsnakes and rat snakes control the local pest population.
If you want to keep problematic bugs and rodents at bay while enjoying nature’s wonders, you should consider leaving that hollowed trunk on your property.
When Should You Remove a Hollow Tree Trunk?
While many healthy trees can adapt around their trunk holes, some fail to thrive following such injuries. They may threaten property structures or host contagious diseases that could spread to other specimens on your property. You might need to contact a local tree removal service under the following circumstances.
Pest Activity
An aggressive insect infestation from termites, boring beetles, and other wood-loving insects almost always spells trouble. They can overtake a dead or dying tree at the first sign of weakness. Not only do they threaten other trees in the vicinity, but they also may spread to wooden buildings and fences.
Safety Hazards
Under some circumstances, a tree may not recover enough to develop that ultra-strong scab that should line the inside of the cavity. This can lead to continued tissue decay, which inevitably affects the entire tree. You should have a professional remove it if the trunk leans toward a building structure or paved area.
Contagious Infections
Like pest infestations, viruses, bacteria, and fungi can quickly spread to other nearby specimens, especially if they are weakened. Completely cutting and removing the tree tissues may provide the best preventative measure to protect your other arboreal friends and neighbors.
What an Arborist Can Do
If you aren’t sure whether a hollowed-out tree can safely thrive on your property, schedule an arborist consultation. They can evaluate the tree in question to determine whether it healed from the injury that caused the cavity.
If they think the tree seems healthy, they can recommend other protective services. Otherwise, they may recommend removal to protect your property.
Let Tree Care Inc. Inspect Your Hollowed Tree
Trees are a mystery for many people. A well-rounded care plan means annually pruning tree branches, fertilizing as needed, and remaining vigilant for signs of pests, whether the specimen sports a hollow tree trunk or not. Schedule a tree inspection in Nashville, Tennessee, by calling Tree Care Inc. at (615) 316-5166.
