Santa Maria officials search for tree killer who injected trunks with chemicals

Three trees in Santa Maria died after someone drilled holes into their trunks and apparently injected chemicals, prompting a plea for help from the public in tracking down the culprit.

The attacked trees are at 527 W. Main St. and 307 W. Taft St., according to a news release from the city.

Officials estimated damages totaling $7,900, not including removal and replacement or penalties.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department at 805-925-0951, ext. 2260.

“The Recreation and Parks staff will be working with a tree pathologist to discover how the trees were killed and what chemicals, if any, were used,” according to a written statement from the city.

Officials did not identify the type of trees targeted in the attack.

On Monday, the city’s park and urban forest supervisor noticed a couple of trees that had died very quickly along West Main Street.

An investigation involving an arborist discovered multiple drill holes near the base of the tree in the main trunk. That typically indicates chemical injection, according to city officials.

The holes were fairly fresh, and appeared to be backfilled with some sort of caulking.

On Thursday, the supervisor was routinely marking a dead tree for removal when he noted similar damage — holes created by a drill and a chemical injected into the trunk.

If caught, anyone involved in causing the damage could face penalties including covering the cost for the trees’ value and expenses associated with replanting.

Residents or businesses with concerns about trees can refer to the city’s website regarding removal and replacement by clicking here.