Storm Topples Champion Tree

American Forests
Friday, 7 June 2002

Maryland residents and Americans everywhere lost a treasure on June 6, when a severe thunderstorm felled the national champion Wye Oak on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

The 460 year-old "Wye Oak," which stood nearly 100 feet tall and had a circumference of over 31 feet, was one of only four champion trees remaining on the National Big Tree Register since American Forests began keeping track in 1940.

The three remaining members of the class of 1940 are California's "General Sherman" giant sequoia and the "Bennet Juniper" western juniper, and Utah's "Jardine Juniper" rocky mountain juniper.

The Baltimore Sun reported that dozens of local residents came to mourn the loss of the Wye Oak as it lay sprawled across Route 662, taking photographs and collecting pieces of the tree.

"It's like a little piece of everybody's life went down with it," neighbor Gail Daddis told the Sun. "I've lived around this tree for most of my life. It's so sad to see it like this."

The death of a champion tree may be a tragic event, but frequent according to American Forests' records. Last year alone, American Forests calculated the loss of 41 trees.

State officials told the Sun they were not sure whether lightning or high winds brought the Champion Wye Oak tree down, but emphasized that the rotting tree was destined to fall sometime. Some of its limbs had been reinforced with steel cables, and concrete had been poured around its base for added support.

Since the tree's death, the National Register of Big Trees no longer has a White Oak champ. For instructions on how to nominate a tree for consideration as a champion, please visit www.americanforests.org/resources/bigtrees/.

For more information, or to contact American Forests, see their website at: www.americanforests.org