Arborists Warn Rain, Wind Exposing Dangers Of Dying Trees In California Drought

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Recent rain and winds have created a scenario arborists have been warning about for months—dead and dying trees becoming hazards.

Whether it's a tree smashing into a car, or one brought down by a freak tornado, arborist Chad Dykstra is all too familiar with tree troubles. He says business is through the roof, thanks to four years of drought.

"We've got multiple years of drought combined with little bit of rain and now some wind," he said.

The hazardous mix has some homeowners shelling out big bucks—potentially thousands of dollars to remove a single tree.

But stressed trees can be treated with weight reduction by taking off some of the ends.

Bill Gonzalez saw his neighbor's trees turn from bright green to a rotten orange in a matter of months.

"It's too bad we got to this situation and these are lovely trees and they're going and if they fall they're going to fall on my home," he said.

Arborists say one dead tree can become contagious. Bark beetles can travel through the soil and decay the root. It's a process the U.S. Forest Service says has already killed off 30 million trees in a year—a number that's expected to double next year.

Nonprofits like the Sacramento Tree Foundation provide free trees to replace dead ones.