Bark receding about 1' up around entire base of silver maple

[MikoDel]

I was doing some storm damage work for a client, when he directed my attention to a different silver on his property. Big mother, trunk dia probly 50" or more, and appears perfectly healthy all thru the crown. But at the base the bark is missing, 360°, and maybe 1' up. The bare wood appears bone-creamy color, dry, and not rotted. I poked it in a few places with my knife - it's not spongy. I can take a pic but I don't have one @ the moment.

This client got a consult from a tree company (I'm a 1 man show - I don't do jobs this big anymore) told him, no emergency, but it should come down, quoted him $4k. This big silver is smack dab in the middle of wires, fences... no way would I wanna tackle this thing, too much work for me. Crown is massive.

I did some web searches and none of the results I found seemed to match this particular affliction. If you need more info I can def post a pic. From my own experience I understand a perfectly 'healthy looking' silver can topple without warning, revealing massive hollows inside that are not readily apparent. Not that such a fact is relevant - that happened on a completely different property. Anyway, thanks for weighing in - much appreciated.

ATTACHMENTS: This is "Thing", the free-standing 'hand limb' that he hired me to take care of. Cracked off a silver on the other side of the yard from the one with the missing bark. Did not have to climb to do that job.

 

[Reach]

Without any sort of picture, it is going to be really hard to get a good idea what is going on there.

If you would like, reach out to me directly. We are in the same part of the state, your customer might be in our service area. If so, I can take a look at the tree in person and can give an alternate quote to remove it if necessary.

 

[ATH]

Need pics.

A tree will not live long if it is girdled. Maybe an animal chewing (beaver, porcupine, rabbit, squirrel (in order of probability)).

If it is threatening lines, he should call the utility first...they may take it down for no cost to him.

 

[ATH]

Without any sort of picture, it is going to be really hard to get a good idea what is going on there.

If you would like, reach out to me directly. We are in the same part of the state, your customer might be in our service area. If so, I can take a look at the tree in person and can give an alternate quote to remove it if necessary.

@MikoDel this is who you want helping if they can...

 

[Reach]

Need pics.

A tree will not live long if it is girdled. Maybe an animal chewing (beaver, porcupine, rabbit, squirrel (in order of probability)).

If it is threatening lines, he should call the utility first...they may take it down for no cost to him.

Around here, the utility probably won't. Or if they agree to, it will likely take them two years to get around to it... Unfortunately, PECO is better at stalling and delaying than they are at acting, but they will turn off power for us without too much fuss if we want to do the work!