While out walking the other day, I stopped to listen to a bird sing. Gazing out into the forest, I noticed that the base of this tree was black like it had been charred by fire. When I went over to investigate, I realized the base of the tree was riddled with holes made by a sapsucker.
My initial search on the internet turned up information on sugar maples. Oozing sap from the holes made by sapsuckers, for example, will soak the bark. A fungus known as Sooty Mold will feed on the sugars in the sap turning the bark black. I wasn’t able to find information about bigleaf maples, but it seems reasonable that a similar occurrence might be happening here. Or maybe the bark has simply become darkened from being saturated by sap.
I am reaching out to the Oregon State Extension to see if they have any information. I’ll keep you posted.
