100-Year-Old Sequoia Poisoned Nearly 2 Years Ago in Portland Now Cut Down by Owner

In Northwest Portland, a 100-year-old Sequoia was poisoned almost two years ago. The owner decided it was time to cut it down a few days ago.

The historic tree was located off Northeast 12th Avenue in the Sabin neighborhood.

Signs of Poisoning

After a few holes were drilled into its base, according to the police, it was poisoned. In February 2021, the incident was reported to the police.

Since then, the tree's top has turned brown, and the owner decided to cut it all down because the tree's condition was getting worse.

Authorities have not yet identified the person responsible for poisoning the tree.

KOIN 6 News reported that the tree was already scheduled for removal by the city of Portland, whose Urban Forestry Division designated it a dangerous nuisance in April 2020 after its roots destroyed the sewage system and cracked the foundation of the neighboring home. The problems had caused the rental home to be vacant for several years. The city notified both property owners of a Correct Tree Nuisance in April 2020, which prompted Bollinger and Rohani to file a lawsuit.

February 2021

When the crime was reported in 2021, a $1000 reward was offered for information regarding damage to an old tree in Portland's Sabin neighborhood.

When the tree was showing signs of severe damage, Bob Sallinger, the Audubon Society's conservation director, said that it was uncertain whether the tree would survive.

The Portland Audubon Society then announced a reward for any information about the case, KATU2 ABC reports.

However, there were no updates, and the owner has already taken the hundred-year-old giant down.

Sequoia in Portland

According to the Portland State website, the coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) and giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum), both native to California, are two large-form conifers that can be easily found in Portland's urban forest.

The two trees have similar characteristics and are frequently mistaken for one another due to their similar common names. Both are renowned for their long lifespans, have thick, reddish bark that acts as natural fire resistance, and are recognized as symbols of the western United States.

It might be perplexing to consider how coast redwoods and sequoias fare in Portland given that their native ranges encompass habitats completely dissimilar from the Mediterranean climate of the Willamette Valley. Portland lacks the elevation, snowpack, and coastal fog seen along the coasts of northern California, where champion redwoods thrive, that the Sierra Mountains have. Despite this, sequoias and redwoods thrive in the city.

The tree inventory project inventoried almost 500 sequoias and redwoods, and 93% of them were rated as good or fair-conditioned. As large-form evergreens, these trees thrive in urban forests and have significant positive effects on the environment and public health. In Portland, a mature giant sequoia can rid the air of pollution and store over 6 tons of carbon.