Farm Detectives Case #1

We want answers, and answers is what we’ll get.

                                             By Nyssa and Ellis

A tree that you can see to the core? Seems impossible, but it exists. Here’s the latest on our three bark-breaking theories for how it came to be.

Number One: Disease caused the bark  to rot and weaken the tree. Then many rainstorms came and and made the rot worse. This then became a perfect habitat for lichen to grow. Now, this may seem like a good theory,  but there are a few things that just don’t seem right. To start, the hole is only on one side and the rest on the tree looks relatively normal. Another reason is that the hole is very layered and precise. Finally, there is one sliver of of the core remaining. 

“If it was disease it would probably rot from the inside out,” Detective Ellis cleverly pointed out. This theory might work, but there is a lot of evidence against it. 

Number Two: We also think that there could have been an old fence there, and when it was torn out it took a chunk of the tree as an accidental souvenir. When a rain came it started to rot and fall out. Again, what doesn’t add up is that there is that sliver of heartwood, and behind it is empty. This theory is a little better except for that sliver of wood. 

Number Three:  A mad Woodpecker has a score to settle with this tree. Where will he strike next? 

Evidence: the hole, very layered and precise, looks purposeful and not something rain or rot would typically do. Second, there is that sliver of wood that we know very well. This shows that the woodpecker wanted to keep the tree alive but in eternal suffering. 

“This theory seems pretty strong,” Detective Ellis said. 

“The mad woodpecker it is, then,” Detective Nyssa said in response. 

“We wanted answers and we got answers,” Detective Ellis stated in finality.

Case Closed.