Massachusetts homeowner returns home from vacation and discovers a massive gash carved into their tree: ‘It's intentional, man-made damage’

Author image for Cata Holmes
Cata Holmes • Writer
Sep 11, 2026 9:45 AM EDT

A week away was all it took for one homeowner to return to a tree bearing a mysterious new scar…

A Massachusetts homeowner was happy to return home from a long vacation. They enjoyed the summer and decided it was a good time to come home and start getting ready to get into a routine again. Right when they were approaching their house, they could see that the tree they share with one of their neighbors had a huge gash that, of course, wasn't there when they left.

They were desperate: they had read all of the stories about other people returning home from vacation and finding gardens, trees, or homes destroyed. And they were upset that it was them, this time. Immediately, they knew that someone did this, not only because of the position the gash was located, but because it was a small neighborhood.

The tree is located 2.5ft from the curb of the street, and their home is 5 feet away from it. They had security cameras, but when they checked, they realized that they didn't show the vandal or what really happened there. 

After giving some extra thought, the homeowner realized that maybe their neighbor was the one who injured the tree. According to what they said, the neighbor complained about the tree and how it blocked the view and things like that, so it's more than likely that it was him. But they don't have any proof that confirms this, so it's really a difficult situation. 

Something important to talk about in these kinds of stories is how people return home from vacation and have to be paranoid about something bad happening. As the OP states in the story, they were reading things like this and weren't shocked when they understood it was their time. People should be more respectful of others' property, but not only that… this is a tree, a living being, and being respectful of nature is also important. We hope that those responsible for the damage can pay for their actions and help restore the tree. 

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  • Have seen posts here before about people damaging trees and unfortunately it looks like it might have happened to me this time. I came home from a week long vacation yesterday afternoon and upon pulling into my drive noticed this giant gash and marks in the side of the tree at the end of the drive.
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  • Tree is roughly 2.5ft from the curb of the street. Tree sits about 5ft or so from the property line with my neighbor and we live in a small neighborhood. I've attached pictures I took of the damage and a google maps image of what the
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  • tree looked like prior to leaving. I haven't spoken to any neighbors yet about this or the police. Ring camera unfortunately doesn't look to have picked up the vandal.
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  • After sharing these pictures with my parents and some coworkers they all believe it's intentional man made damages. Home is in MA and I'm just trying to gauge why someone would do this and what my options are, so any advice would be appreciated.
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  • daemonicalec OP An update for those who care, called the town DPW and reported the damage. Said the tree warden would be reaching out to me this week and coming to take a look since it's probably in public right of way, will more
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  • than likely file a police report after that. Will also probably confront my neighbor on that side to ask if his cameras caught it and see what comes of that. He has made comments in the past about how he doesn't like the tree and would take
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  • it down, so I've been suspicious of him from the start. I appreciate everyone's comments, constructive or otherwise, it's given me some insight. Got a few laughs out of this thread too so thanks for that.
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  • Bitter-Ad-4996 get an arborist to come look at it. The tree could di..
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  • SuperSlugSister Those are intentional for sure-- this is "girdling". My bet is that your neighbor next to the tree doesn't like it and realized you weren't at home. You need to put a camera on that tree.
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  • 9:17 1 894 G May 2025 6.1025 Google < Back to Route 9029 Go
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  • xjmoe83 Do any of your neighbors have outside cameras or ring cameras? I would be knocking on their doors for footage.
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  • Initial-Comedian-797 Ask neighbors if they can share security videos of anyone in your yard while you were gone.
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  • A concerned woman in a green sweater wonders who damaged her tree.
    via Unsplash+ (via Simon Abel)

    A concerned woman in a green sweater wonders who damaged her tree.

    Model representation.

  • thankyoufriendx3 Get an arborist out there. There are things you can do when a tree is girdled. I saved an apple tree that had its bark removed about two feet off the ground.
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  • GS_Corvette Get a buddy to meet you outside, near the tree. Make a big show of it. Later let your neighbors know that the "tree guy" believes the damage isn't life threatening to the tree. Get cameras on the tree because the culprit will strike again.
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  • cryssHappy Start going door to door to see if anyone has cameras that include your tree. ASAP that arborist. When you plant a new tree, make sure you have cameras on it from various points. Looks like a bad axe and a battery skill saw was used on it.
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  • lastlaugh100 100% some neighbor 5 houses down who is mad your tree is put three leaves in his yard.
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  • citizensyn If you can prove who did it and this kills the tree you can legitimately drag them through court to make them pay the insane costs to transplant a fully mature tree to replace it. Chances are they won't have the money and will have to sell the house so the new tree won't be their problem.
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