Statewide Tree Damage
Look up and watch out for hazardous trees while visiting the woods in our state’s forests, parks and wildlife management areas.
Severe storms and drought resulting from our changing climate and major insect infestations result in damaged or dead trees in forests and residential areas. Damaged, dead, and diseased trees can fall without warning, potentially causing injury or property damage. As you hike the trails or visit picnic areas and campgrounds, be extra cautious:
- Look up and be aware of your surroundings.
- Be particularly watchful when it is windy or when branches are covered with snow.
- Avoid parking, picnicking, camping, hiking, and hunting in areas where dead trees or dead limbs are more likely to fall.
- Walk around, not over, downed limbs and trees.
While the chances of being struck by a falling tree or branch are low, being vigilant while in the woods can reduce the odds even more.
Despite the loss of many trees in our forests due to extreme weather events and insect infestations, our forests are still healthy. A forest is more than just trees. It includes the animals, other plants, soils, landscape, and the many processes that stitch these individual items together. One way to assess the health of a forest is to observe how it recovers from disturbance.
New trees and shrubs will grow in the openings created by dead and downed trees. Standing dead trees, known as snags, provide roosting sites for hawks and habitat for cavity-using birds (woodpeckers, wood ducks, some owls, and more), amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, such as squirrels. Insects and fungi thrive on downed wood, also aiding in their decomposition back to the soil. Brush piles created by downed trees and branches provide cover and homes for a variety of wildlife, including chipmunks, rabbits and snakes.
Keeping the Forests Open
DEEP is taking steps to address damaged, diseased, and dead trees, particularly in high-use areas. You may see trees marked with a dot of orange paint in picnic areas, around parking lots, and along major trails. These trees are slated for removal – please stay away from them. You are encouraged to visit our parks, forests, and wildlife management areas, but it is important to keep in mind there is always a certain element of risk in using natural areas. Taking precautions is prudent while you enjoy the wonderful natural resources that our state has to offer.
DEEP Hazard Tree Mitigation Policy
In 2022, DEEP developed a Hazard Tree Mitigation Policy with feedback from the public.
For more information, contact DEEP.Hazardtrees@ct.gov.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
Spongy Moths
State Parks and Forests
Content updated May 2025