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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Be Sure To Check Your Trees For ‘Widow Makers’

Joan Jackson San Jose Mercury News

Everyone knows about the black widow spider. Take a bite. Look for a new mate.

Among tree people, the term “widow maker” describes a tree hazard that’s just as deadly as the black widow.

The phrase “widow maker” originated with woodcutters working in unmaintained forests, says Barrie Coate, a Los Gatos, Calif. arborist and oak tree specialist. “It’s used to describe a broken or dead branch in a tree that is hanging or ready to fall. It falls on you and your wife’s a widow,” he says.

“Widow makers” can be found on all kinds of trees, but conifers are among the most likely contenders to drop a limb on an unsuspecting passerby.

The moral of all this? Check your mature trees regularly for signs of dead or dying branches or weak limbs. Hire a certified arborist to examine suspect trees.

If limbs need work, hire a professional. Dangerous limbs are no place for a homeowner to be climbing around with a chain saw.