Extension: Identifying, managing hazardous trees Boring beetle holes are visible in this dead pine tree that became entangled in the branches of other trees and has not yet completed its fall. - photo by Heather Kolich Hazardous Trees: Our recent Georgia Arbor Day celebrations gave us opportunities to appreciate the many benefits of trees. These majestic plants are essential elements for many ecosystems. They provide habitat and nourishment for wildlife and other plants, reduce soil erosion, and influence the weather. On the human side, trees give us beauty and shade, improve our physical and mental health, and provide economic benefits. But all like all living and structural things, trees can fail, and a failing tree can become a hazard.