Trees poisoned in Kelowna, city wonders why

Someone appears to be intentionally killing trees on public property in Kelowna

The city’s parks staff is hoping the public can provide information on who is responsible after several acts of vandalism.

“A large elm at 900 Manhattan Drive was recently poisoned and died. Additionally, one Aspen tree in the Kuipers Peak neighbourhood was poisoned and because of the connected root systems, seven Aspen died as a result,” a city news release stated.

Tara Bergeson, urban forestry technician with the city, calls the intentional acts of harm tragic and senseless.

“With all the benefits that trees provide our city, the big question when it comes to tree vandalism is ‘why’? The elm on Manhattan was a mature tree providing shade, helping to clean the neighbourhood’s air and beautifying the street,” Bergeson remarked.

Bergeson explained the Aspen are in a unique area known as Clarance Greenspace, where Clarance Avenue meets Kuipers Crescent.

“The area is a wet forest, where the deciduous trees act to moderate the groundwater, which then stabilizes nearby slopes,” the technician stated.

The elm at Manhattan was estimated to be 60+ years old and was in a riparian zone. City crews have since removed the dead tree, which also comes at a $5,000 cost to city taxpayers.

Elm tree at 900 Manhattan Drive in Kelowna was recently poisoned and died. (Photo credit: City of Kelowna)

Anyone found to be vandalizing or removing trees on city property could be fined under the Municipal Properties Tree bylaw up to $50,000 for each tree.

Anyone with information related to this vandalism is asked to contact the City of Kelowna at 250-469-8500 or call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)