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| Steve Spackman uses a chainsaw to "gird" larger trees to stop the flow of nutrients. This tree will eventually die, along with the mistletoe. Smaller trees are cut down to provide ground habitat for small insects, birds and mammals. |
Steve Spackman, dressed in tan overalls and a flannel shirt, almost blends in with the forest. Far from crowded recreation areas, the only thing that gives him away is his chainsaw. Steve works hand in hand with the U.S. Forest Service as a contractor hired to thin portions of 1800 acres. It will take he and his assistant, Theron Jr. Black, more than a month to complete the job, at 2.3 acres per man/day. |
“This is way mixed,” said Spackman, identifying over 9 species of tree in the area. Spackman will only remove Douglas-fir during this project, so tree identification is important. Spackman works from Monday through Thursday, and then returns home to his family in St. George for the weekend. “It is slow,” said Spackman, but to him it’s worth it. Spackman, a logger and forester by trade knows that this is the best thing for the forest and that to help manage the forest for multiple use, thinning and burning projects are necessary elements. |
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Mistletoe Spread Halted
To view a short, 45 second motion video showing thinning of mistletoe infected trees, you can choose from two movie file sizes;
Video Viewing Instructions
Description of video clip
Steve Spackman, contractor, uses a chainsaw to gird larger trees and thin out the smaller mistletoe infected trees. Once the trees are on the ground, or the tree’s nutrient flow is stopped, the mistletoe cannot spread. Trees left standing will eventually die, but provide habitat for cavity-nesting birds.
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