The Most Dangerous Thing In Michigan During Winter You Don’t Think About

Normally when you think of zombies you think of the undead coming for your brains, which is why zombie trees aren't much different. You've never heard of a zombie tree? Well, there's good news and bad news.

The good news is that it is not a tree that comes back to life and chases you down to chow on your brains. The bad news is you could unexpectedly walk under a zombie tree and be seriously injured by it. So, let's talk about these things.

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What Is A Zombie Tree?

As defined by the USDA Forest Service:

Zombie trees are hazardous trees with terminal health issues due to insects, disease or other damage. Whatever the cause, the first indication that you have a zombie in your yard is a general decline of the tree, such as dying branches, leaf discoloration or early leaf drop, woodpecker activity, internal decay or possibly fungi growing on the tree.

It's easy to see that when we get hit with an ice storm like we had in Kalamazoo in 2023, or when these trees absorb moisture from rain during warmer winter days, then we get freezing temps, the expansion of the wood can cause branches to break off and become a serious risk for anyone walking by.

So even though they're not the undead, they still, in one way, come for your brains. It's best if you see a tree that has limbs that look dead and dangerous, you stay clear of it. We don't want you getting hit and getting one step closer to becoming a zombie yourself.