Hunting for American Chestnut

Have you ever seen and American chestnut? This video will walk you through the process of hunting for and reporting American chestnut trees you find in the wild using the TreeSnap app.
Learn more at:
-TreeSnap: treesnap.org/
-KY Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation: acf.org/ky/

Пікірлер: 73

  • @accousticdecay
    @accousticdecay Жыл бұрын

    Gentlemen, this excellent video is worthy of promulgation to the general public via all available means. I had found American Chestnuts in past decades, before RA curtailed any hiking in the woods, and before I realized that I should report such findings. I'd like to encourage young hikers to use the app and join the search.

  • @Camo-Dan

    @Camo-Dan

    4 ай бұрын

    Im in! Ill look into getting the app. When im hiking or anything im learning how to look for these trees and i would be able to use the app.

  • @whitefreeman5798
    @whitefreeman5798 Жыл бұрын

    the tree snap program should be introduced to all school children.. to encourage them to care about the forest and get them excited about helping the future and living a healthier life by getting out of the house

  • @nathanlaing8441
    @nathanlaing8441 Жыл бұрын

    Here in the northeast, wild American chestnut is typically found in mixed, acidic, well drained forested slopes and benches/ridge tops. Overhead disturbance either natural or artificial within past 100 years will also promote growth. Common co-associates but not absolute indicators are Oaks (Red, white Chestnut oak), Witchhazel shrubs , and understory of blueberry and other Ericaceae members like Teaberry and wintergreen. Hemlock forests too but not always dominant dominant. Interesting some of the largest wild (12” DBH) chestnut I’ve come across happen to be near lakeshore /river shores.

  • @peterkilbridge6523

    @peterkilbridge6523

    11 ай бұрын

    Fellow Chestnut-lover: Thanks for that.

  • @Camo-Dan

    @Camo-Dan

    4 ай бұрын

    Interesting information, i too am in the northeast. (Vermont/mass/ny. I have seen other videos on youtube where large trees have been found by water/lake. I wonder why that is.

  • @nathanlaing8441

    @nathanlaing8441

    4 ай бұрын

    I reckon it could be differences in soil microbes. Especially interesting hypothesis to ponder given the use of moist soils as part of orchard “mud packing” technique

  • @chadouellette790
    @chadouellette7904 ай бұрын

    I've seen them in Maine! One in Harpswell is over a hundred years old. Huge gnarly tree! On an old farm

  • @jamesderoc6717

    @jamesderoc6717

    4 ай бұрын

    if true its a major find

  • @brett76544
    @brett76544 Жыл бұрын

    there was one chestnut that I could do 11 arm spans around back when I was 15. It was still alive 5 years ago, along with some youngers ones on that ridge. That big one and many of the smaller ones had a 10 acre well pad placed there.

  • @peterkilbridge6523

    @peterkilbridge6523

    11 ай бұрын

    So good to hear that. 🙏

  • @kathymostoller2619
    @kathymostoller26197 ай бұрын

    Live in Pa. Near Mt. Davis , highest point in Pa. There's American Chestnut trees growing on the mountain. Young ones about good 15' high.

  • @shanestanton5481

    @shanestanton5481

    6 ай бұрын

    My dad is on Ridge Ridge, across the MD line. There are a few, but they grow for about ten years, and die.

  • @paulbeck6410
    @paulbeck64107 ай бұрын

    I know where there is several American Chestnut trees. Also my brother and my dad started several on the farm that are thriving and producing nuts. This is in Northwestern Illinois.

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    6 ай бұрын

    Let the American Chestnut Foundation know? tacf.org. Northwestern Illinois is outside of the natural range of American chestnut but great that you are having success growing them there!

  • @danhealyeverythingoutdoors7105
    @danhealyeverythingoutdoors7105 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent video !

  • @paolazannini458
    @paolazannini458 Жыл бұрын

    Good job!

  • @nealramsey4439
    @nealramsey44392 ай бұрын

    I will definitely have the app on my phone when I go out looking for Morels this spring. I'm pretty sure that I've seen some in the past. Morels and Chestnut may not grow in the same places but I will cover some mountain ridges. At this point I would be more interested in finding Chestnut trees than Morels.

  • @andyfeimsternfei8408
    @andyfeimsternfei84087 ай бұрын

    Years ago, Grandmother Mountain in NC was covered in chestnuts. I haven't been there in decades.

  • @hatuxka
    @hatuxka Жыл бұрын

    On the Cornell campus grounds that are wooded near Beebe Lake, coupla sprouts along a trail there. Near Geneva NY in a patch of woods west of the town.

  • @Man-cv5ws
    @Man-cv5ws Жыл бұрын

    I hope future generations will see a comeback.

  • @blakespower
    @blakespower Жыл бұрын

    I understand that during the beginnings of the blight they would cut down many healthy chestnut trees to try to stop the spread of the blight, maybe some of those trees were naturally immune if you can find them and clear out space for sunlight to let them grow again

  • @irishfruitandberries9059

    @irishfruitandberries9059

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep, that's the sentiment amongst a lot of experts now.

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    Жыл бұрын

    The American Chestnut Foundation and partners are doing a lot of research to try to identify resistance in our native American chestnut (as well as other approaches). While they have done some great work, there seems to be less resistance out there than we would hope for (meaning that supplementing with other approaches is especially important). You can read more at their site here: acf.org/science-strategies/3bur/

  • @brett76544

    @brett76544

    Жыл бұрын

    PA was where they tried to make a fire break for the tree. It lasted about 2 years.

  • @nolanholmberg311

    @nolanholmberg311

    11 ай бұрын

    @@kyforesthealthhave you all been made aware of the genetically modified American chestnut named “prop 58” it’s completely stable and has resistance to blight in all tests. It seems like we’ll be seeing the return of these great trees en masse if the USDA will stop being in constant state bureaucratic hell lmfao

  • @freetolook3727
    @freetolook3727 Жыл бұрын

    I remember that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation roped off the area around a sapling in Gilboa, NY back in the late 1970's.

  • @jamesderoc6717
    @jamesderoc6717 Жыл бұрын

    found one today in MA

  • @Camo-Dan

    @Camo-Dan

    4 ай бұрын

    What town? I am from mass! I hope to start looking when im out hunting/hiking. How big was it? So cool.

  • @jamesderoc6717

    @jamesderoc6717

    4 ай бұрын

    @@Camo-Dan it was in upton, i found the nut didn't realize it was a AC till i got home. still need to go back and locate the tree they came from.

  • @freetolook3727
    @freetolook3727 Жыл бұрын

    I have a Horse Chestnut tree in my yard and the seedlings, for some reason, only grow about a foot then die out.

  • @dennistozier5530
    @dennistozier55307 ай бұрын

    Hey great information do you know if their are american chestnut trees in maine I have found horse chestnut tree .

  • @smileyvision2626
    @smileyvision2626 Жыл бұрын

    I have a 160 ft American Chestnut on my property that's 14 in diameter with no blight in lakemont GA. It was 30 ft from the power lines and the power company took out half the canopy. I wasn't there at the time but it infuriated me. I just downloaded the Treesnap and when I get home I'll do some pics. Please point me towards some other resources. I also have black walnuts and berry trees. I love my trees and I want to protect them! thank you

  • @thomasjcorson4758

    @thomasjcorson4758

    Жыл бұрын

    Is there another American Chestnut nearby I hope so!

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    Жыл бұрын

    Wow! Report it in the app but also reach out to your local TACF chapter acf.org/ga/

  • @smileyvision2626

    @smileyvision2626

    Жыл бұрын

    @@thomasjcorson4758 I haven't done much exploring in the near woods but there are some spouts around it.

  • @smileyvision2626

    @smileyvision2626

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kyforesthealth Thank You

  • @otracuentaperra4290

    @otracuentaperra4290

    Жыл бұрын

    What a great thing to hear. I hope there are saplings around . We have and in Tennessee and it is definitely ready to get in the program to help the species.

  • @CRAFTSMANFISHING
    @CRAFTSMANFISHING10 ай бұрын

    In my area in Maryland is a 14 feet tree that has been fighting the blight for 5 years. And today I found some saplings with nuts getting ready for fall. I will love to show you.

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    10 ай бұрын

    That's exciting! You should reach out to the Maryland chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation if you are interested? acf.org/md/about-us/

  • @veritas6466
    @veritas64666 ай бұрын

    Thank you for the Chestnut education. The same cliff side edges and landings enjoyed by the tree are warming areas for the reptiles!

  • @jackjones9460
    @jackjones946015 күн бұрын

    If there are small trees there must be larger ones somewhere.

  • @accousticdecay
    @accousticdecay Жыл бұрын

    Vigorous mud-packing may help the tree survive a few more years so that a few crops of intentionally pollinated nuts can be garnered. Just a thought from an old coot.

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes, I think there are plans to try something like that with this tree!

  • @woodboogerfarm
    @woodboogerfarm11 ай бұрын

    I would love to start some American chestnut trees here on my farm...how can I get some seeds to start?

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    10 ай бұрын

    Currently, the only American chestnuts that are available are susceptible to the blight and will eventually be killed by it. You may be able to find some hybrid American x Chinese chestnuts with more resistance to the blight (and a form more like Chinese chestnut). I'd recommend reaching out to your local TACF chapter if you are interested in planting trees on your farm

  • @wingking077
    @wingking077 Жыл бұрын

    The chestnut the young lady was standing in at beginning and end, what variety is it? European sweet, dunstan, Chinese?

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    Жыл бұрын

    It's either an American or a hybrid American x Chinese. However, mostly American and highly susceptible to the blight. It's growing in an open field setting so grows vigorously but once shoots get to about 1 inch in diameter they die...

  • @YouTuber-ep5xx
    @YouTuber-ep5xx5 ай бұрын

    Is that Bigleaf Magnolia right under the chestnut at 20:00 in?

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    5 ай бұрын

    It looks more like an umbrella magnolia to me but it certainly could be! They both grow in this area.

  • @SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands
    @SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands7 ай бұрын

    Just plant European ones, got one in my backyard, it's doing just fine here in the Netherlands :)

  • @kbkesq
    @kbkesq8 ай бұрын

    Very cool video! They are trying to engineer blight resistant American chestnut trees but they could just use these to propagate the species again.

  • @kindredspiritzz66

    @kindredspiritzz66

    6 ай бұрын

    How do they propagate? I don't think burying the nuts will grow a tree from a previous video I watched

  • @stefkadank-derpjr1453

    @stefkadank-derpjr1453

    5 ай бұрын

    The problem with using the American chestnut tree to "make more" is that they have found that a chestnut tree grown from the propagation of chestnut trees found in the wild, will grow up to just before it starts to reproduce itself (around age 5-6 years) and it will be struck down by the blight before the tree has a chance to ever make a crop of nuts.

  • @fjwrt
    @fjwrt Жыл бұрын

    After all this time is there still no chemical to be found to help treat the blight?

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    Жыл бұрын

    Not that can control this widespread in a forest setting :( The American Chestnut Foundation and partners are doing a lot of research, you can read more at their site here: acf.org/science-strategies/3bur/

  • @kindredspiritzz66
    @kindredspiritzz666 ай бұрын

    Ok what i don't get is where is the blight now? How is it still killing trees? They have to travel miles between trees to hand polloinate them cause its to far for insects or wind to do it naturally. So hows the blight still finding these trees? I get the initial wave of blight just went tree to tree cause there were so many so close to one another. Small grove of them in Wisconsin that finally got it in the 90s i believe, states away from the next closest chestnut trees. Hows that blight move if its not insects or wind?

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    6 ай бұрын

    Good question! Unfortunately, while this fungus only kills American chestnut, it can infect and live in a broad range of other tree species without causing this same level of damage. Oaks, hickories, even sumac have all been found to be infected. So while there are no large chestnut to spread it, it will persist in the environment in these other hosts and is not going anywhere long-term. You can read more here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_blight. In addition, there's a lot more small chestnut trees out and about than most people realize. While these never become large trees due to the blight killing them when they grow large enough, check out the TreeSnap app data and you can see lot of small bushy chestnuts: treesnap.org

  • @conishka3749
    @conishka3749 Жыл бұрын

    Are they working on a cure it makes me so sad to see and know how many trees die from the blight

  • @jayrudo6280

    @jayrudo6280

    Жыл бұрын

    Chinese Chestnuts are immune to the blight. There is a group, I forget the name, that is cross pollinating it. They think in 10 years they will have an American Chestnut immune to blight.

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    Жыл бұрын

    KY Forest Health 1 second ago The American Chestnut Foundation and partners are doing a lot of research to try bring back our native American chestnut. You can read more at their site here: acf.org/science-strategies/3bur/

  • @jackjones9460
    @jackjones946010 ай бұрын

    Is there any treatment that kills the fungus?

  • @kyforesthealth

    @kyforesthealth

    10 ай бұрын

    There are some options for protecting individual trees but they must be repeated are are not effective long-term. However, if you have a tree in your yard that you want to protect you can look into both mud packing/ soil compress method and fungicide injections. Not an option to protect forest trees but certainly worth exploring in some contexts and here is a factsheet with more information: ecosystems.psu.edu/research/chestnut/breeding/blight/control-blight

  • @jackjones9460

    @jackjones9460

    10 ай бұрын

    @@kyforesthealth Thank you! I’m buying chestnut trees and seeds to sprout to plant a bunch of trees. Some are Chinese, some are Dunstun hybrid & some I’m told were sprouted from Dunstun hybrids. I’m 58 and have never seen a chestnut growing. I ate some roast chestnuts in Turkey though. When I heard about the blight I decided I’m going to grow some. I likely will never see them fully grown but I’ve started with ten seedlings now. My children and other people will enjoy them again, God willing.

  • @thomasjcorson4758
    @thomasjcorson4758 Жыл бұрын

    If American Chestnuts are extremely endangered are they protected if not they should be!

  • @CalvinsCorner72
    @CalvinsCorner72 Жыл бұрын

    Why can't you graft it with a Chinese tree to save it?

  • @Noone-rt6pw
    @Noone-rt6pw Жыл бұрын

    Reporting the trees, it might be good to keep them secret. But, I'd like to have ripe nuts or young saplings to plant here if they live, maybe they can establish themselves and adapt.

  • @mr.redneck2715
    @mr.redneck271511 ай бұрын

    Your not a biologist that’s for sure! Unless they have grizzly bears where you are.

  • @lindayoung2959
    @lindayoung29597 ай бұрын

    Somebody cut all the black walnut trees on my property before I bought it.