Texas lost 500 million trees due to last year’s drought. Ramona Embry of College Station’s Forestry Department said dead trees can be hazardous to the people around them. Dead branches can fall, causing injury to a person below.
Embry said they are practically “chasing” dead trees around the city removing them for safety reasons.
But dead trees are not the only threat. Co-dominant trees, which are alive and look healthy, can also be dangerous.
Embry said co-dominant means many stems are coming from the trunk of the tree, which push together causing pressure on the bark. This can cause the tree to actually come part and branches to fall off.
If you notice a tree that is dead or needs attention, contact the College Station Parks and Recreation department at 979-764-3486.
WTAW’s Chelsea Reber visits with Ramona Embry