This poor little tree was as old as the six-foot one we just lost, but it had a hard life. Its top was eaten off at least once and it partially got clobbered by a falling dead tree, but it was hanging in there.
April 26, 2018
Until this week:
August 25, 2018
Andy thought it was way too small to be in danger from the deer or elk antlers, but clearly not. It’s a hard life up there. Rest in peace, little tree.
Andy’s thinking about buying replacements, but not until he figures out what fences to build to protect them.
August 26, 2018
you would think the needles would hurt their mouths or something.
but so obviously not the case. and it’s sad!
but I’m reminded of the phrase that always helps me …
“nature is harsh but not cruel. cruelty implies intent.”
They are nibbling on the part of the limber pine that isn’t protected by its fence, but they didn’t eat the needles of this one — they’re lying on the ground. They rub their antlers on the trunks of trees to get the velvet off.
I’m thinking of a cat playing with a mouse — it seems to me there is intent there, as much as with some humans. I disagree that humans aren’t a part of nature too — human nature is what it is because we evolved that way, we survived as a species.
well….. as far as the cat and mouse,
I don’t think they have intent is to be cruel.
I think it’s more about the thrill of the hunt
for the cat or the fun of a game or just hunger.
Of course it appears to be cruel to us.
But I doubt they feel the emotion of joy in inflicting pain.
I don’t think it matters to the mouse if we call it cruel or not, and a lot of humans suffer at the hands of other humans. I’m guessing most of it isn’t because the person inflicting the pain feels joy, often there is some other motive for doing it. At any rate, nature doesn’t care.
Seems a shame, but it really didn’t seem the poor thing would make it!
It had a lot of grit, so I was rooting for it.
Poor little tree.
But I get why you were rooting for it.
Sometimes was appears weak, has unknown strength.
🙁
I’m guessing it eventually would have grown if we could have protected it.
It is always a sad sight to see when such things happen but, nature has its own rhythm and we can only do so much.
It’s just part of life. There are never any guarantees.
Survival is difficult even for trees it seems — sorry this one didn’t make it.
Thank you. It had been struggling for about six years, so we were rooting for it.
the tree had a great innings, all through it’s trials and a replacement tree will be a fitting tribute – in aroundabout way that humans do care … RIP
You make a good point!