In the real world as opposed to theoretical there is often someone on the ground, coworker, foreman or boss who's telling you everything looks good "Go get it!". Or your own mind under quote or expectations pressure telling you the same thing. It's super easy for someone else to tell you 'It's...
Climbing to the TIP and inspecting before working the tree is a smart practice. Many times you can visually assess well enough from the ground or from within the tree before reaching the TIP.
Evo's comment about not getting greedy about getting the highest possible TIP is right on the money...
We've had 2 in a row very cold/hard winters in Mass. Unless something else is discovered I like the winter burn diagnosis. Being next to an open pond increased cold wind effects.
And yes, what's going on around the root zone.
-AJ
Yes. I saw that, remembered that thread. This makes at least two 2026 deaths I know of where people said things like "I need to get out of this" at some point and then got out in a terrible way.
No answers just recognition that life is difficult from the get-go and the pressure on tree workers...
A raccoon latrine is a simply a place where they regularly defecate. Being smart animals they're not random about where they make deposits! Similar to humans that way ;-) The main difference is they don't use toilet paper.
-AJ
Which reminds me, raccoon dung contains "raccoon roundworm eggs". This is the most significant disease hazard that I encounter on a regular basis around trees. Raccoons create "raccoon latrines" in tree hollows, on limbs and at the base of trees, I see them frequently...
Yes. All the simmering neighborhood resentments become clear going door-to-door. And then there's all the magic of neighbors who never met each other chit-chatting while I climb up and say "where the hell's the cat?" (it was here a minute or two ago).
Always fun-times with aggressive kitties! I...
The answer is a qualified yes: there's no saws buzzing, wood swinging, or chippers roaring. Did two rescues last Monday. Turned out to be a very long day. It is in part working in trees so yep it is "tree work" ;-)
For the second rescue there was pulling poison ivy vine off a dying green ash in...
Federal law about not possessing raptor parts is to defeat the blackmarket for feathers etc. It's a big problem with people killing eagles so they can sell their parts. Your example is great. The proverbial black helicopters are not going to show up and bust a person who picked up a hawk feather...
The challenge when a bird gets hung up like that is they can severely break their leg as they struggle to escape. Birds have interesting bones very unlike mammals, super efficient structurally, they can’t be heavy like a ground-based mammal. When a compound fracture happens to a leg rehabbers...