# What is the leading natural cause of death for trees? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217 "2013-09-06T23:42:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/1 "2013-09-06T23:42:27Z")
So, when I think of trees dying, I usually envision things like chainsaws, or giant fires. But, I was wondering, what can trees die of that would be considered “natural causes,” and not, say, infection, insect infestation, natural disasters, or humans? ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/2 "2013-09-06T23:46:07Z")
I would think that infection, insect infestation, and natural disasters would be, in the tree view of live anyway, natural causes. Other than that I got nuttin. ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/3 "2013-09-07T00:01:09Z")
Do an image search for cottonwood borer, cool critter, death to poplars, borers kill a lot of trees. Slime flux is common in the elm family, the bacterial load in their vascular system gets so high the sap erupts from crotches and pruning cuts, slow death. Pine bark beetles, Atlas cedar moth, gypsy moth. Oak wilt and other fungi devastate urban forests. Cedars are the first to die in a Texas drought. Drive through Joplin, MO, you can still see the track of the tornado that cut through town.The Tunguska asteroid explosion of 1908 devastated thousands of square kilometers of forest, killing millions of trees. Pretty cool. I’ve planted 60 trees on my property the past few years, trying to catch up… ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/4 "2013-09-07T00:36:17Z")
So, anybody have any facts for tree deaths other than infection, insect infestation, natural disasters, or humans? ---
**Author:** ![slowlearner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@slowlearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slowlearner)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/5 "2013-09-07T00:40:52Z")
beaver beaver beaver ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/6 "2013-09-07T01:05:31Z")
Most trees have a fairly definite lifespan and will eventually die basically of old age. Just like in humans, “old age” isn’t a particular thing, but rather a whole group of maladies that they get more susceptible to as they get old. This is actually an issue in many American towns where they planted trees at around the same time they were paving the roads. All the trees in town or in a particular neighborhood are the same species and roughly the same age and so now, 100 or so years later, they’re all reaching the end of their natural lifespan at the same time and you’re getting whole blocks of disease and insect kills (which the trees would have successfully fought off in their younger days) and tons of downed branches and trees every time there’s a wind or snowstorm. ETA: [The Master speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/849/do-trees-ever-die-of-old-age) (about tree lifespans). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/7 "2013-09-07T02:38:08Z")
[Bark beetles](http://www.fs.usda.gov/barkbeetle) have been killing millions of acres of forest in the US west in recent years. It’s depressing to see. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/8 "2013-09-07T03:12:32Z")
The often fall over due to their root system being unable to support the tree in high winds. Trees get top heavy as they get older and if they are on unstable ground. Disease or poor weather can contribute to it as well. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/9 "2013-09-07T05:24:30Z")
Bristlecone Pine to OP: “When four thousand six hundred years old you are, look as good you will not.” ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/10 "2013-09-07T06:14:12Z")
OK, but excluding parasites, ground instaility, etc…How would a tree “die of old age”? Each tree specie has a lifespan, like animal species, apparently. But if left alone, animals eventually die of cancer, or organ failure. What do lucky trees who avoided parasites and fires die of? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/11 "2013-09-07T13:59:16Z")
Suicide ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/12 "2013-09-07T14:35:55Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > OK, but excluding parasites, ground instaility, etc…How would a tree “die of old age”? Each tree specie has a lifespan, like animal species, apparently. But if left alone, animals eventually die of cancer, or organ failure. What do lucky trees who avoided parasites and fires die of? [Here](http://zidbits.com/2012/08/do-trees-die-from-old-age/) is a good explanation. As they get older, they just can’t heal damage as well and something eventually disrupts their life processes. Somewhat off topic but check out [Sweeden’s massive tree pile](http://gizmodo.com/5909847/you-have-never-seen-so-much-wood-in-your-entire-life). ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/13 "2013-09-07T14:38:57Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Suicide Especially willows. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/14 "2013-09-07T14:48:22Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > [Bark beetles](http://www.fs.usda.gov/barkbeetle) have been killing millions of acres of forest in the US west in recent years. It’s depressing to see. That’s not natural death, that’s climate change. ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/15 "2013-09-07T17:11:32Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Suicide I have no cite, but I was under the impression it would be Elmzheimer’s …😕 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/16 "2013-09-07T18:40:16Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Especially willows. It’s not intentional. A lot of them get depressed and start cutting themselves\*, and it just goes too far. \*with chainsaws ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/17 "2013-09-07T18:44:49Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s not intentional. A lot of them get depressed and start cutting themselves\*, and it just goes too far. > > \*with chainsaws Sap is a cry for help. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/18 "2013-09-07T18:53:07Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Sap is a cry for help. Whereas bark is a cry for attention? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/19 "2013-09-07T19:22:57Z")
Just so. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217/20 "2013-09-08T10:43:06Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > OK, but excluding parasites, ground instaility, etc…How would a tree “die of old age”? Each tree specie has a lifespan, like animal species, apparently. But if left alone, animals eventually die of cancer, or organ failure. What do lucky trees who avoided parasites and fires die of? They die of cavitation. Trees are essentially just a huge bundle of pipes transporting water from the soil to the leaves. Once those pipes fill with air bubbles, they can’t transport water, and the tree dies. If nothing else kills a tree, it eventually reaches a size where it can’t maintain the water flow to the leaves. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-leading-natural-cause-of-death-for-trees/668217.md?page=2)