Walking my yard today I noticed some sizable (1-2" long) woodchips. Looking up i spotted these 2 large holes in my pine. Just below look to be 2 prior holes that have "healed". Im just concerned about long term tree health. This tree is on a ~40 degree slope and leaning to perfectly land on my 10'x12 shed at the base of the hill. Ive also got 2 young ones that frequently play in the yard.
The second photo is a tree thats ~10' away from the first tree with similar damage. This tree however was young/thinner and the hole has effectively gutted the tree which is what I fear happening to the first. I plan to cut down the hollow tree before it can hit my shed or the adjacent neighbors fence.
by holyone666
2 Comments
Woodpeckers are a symptom, not a cause. Trees full of bugs.
Where do you live? Those holes with the sap running out look like the characteristic nesting holes for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, an uncommon to rare and perhaps threatened species living in the SE Piedmont biome; LA, AL, MS, GA, SC, NC. Is that a real Longleaf Pine?
[https://www.fws.gov/species/red-cockaded-woodpecker-dryobates-borealis](https://www.fws.gov/species/red-cockaded-woodpecker-dryobates-borealis)
You are lucky to have them in your yard, please contact your local/state Fish and Wildlife department. It may be unlawful to mess with the trees in a way that effects the birds.
The white resin dripping from the holes are used as resin barriers against predatory North American rat snakes. Think ‘sticky traps’.