Trees deliberately killed along Burke-Gilman trail

Seattle parks staff found seven mature trees on the Burke-Gilman Trail this week that had been intentionally killed, city officials said today.

The three silver poplars and four Douglas firs, approximately 70 feet in height, grew along the trail at 77th Avenue Northeast, said Dewey Potter, spokeswoman for the parks department.

The trees were drilled with quarter-inch holes and injected with herbicide. The fatal damage was discovered late afternoon Tuesday, she said.

The three poplars are already dead, two of the Douglas firs are dead, and the other two are starting to turn brown, she said. The rapid death of the poplars indicates herbicide was likely injected in the holes, she said.

"This loss is significant," said Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tim Gallagher, in a news release. "There are so few conifers in this area of the trail. No matter how often private citizens damage publicly-owned trees, it is always shocking."

Although the trees remain standing now, the city forester will eventually take them down, Potter added.

Parks staff have submitted a police report and say the crime could be prosecuted under the state's "malicious mischief" or "timber trespass" statute.

As for why someone would intentionally kill the trees, Potter said, "it's been been known to happen for view protection."

Parks staff estimate the value of the trees at between $40,000 and $60,000 and say it will take up to 30 years for the replacement trees to reach maturity.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle Police Department at 206-625-5011.

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com