Woman Finds Her Maple Tree Turned Black – Botanists Freeze When They Dig Beneath It

Laura dropped her luggage, her heart beating against her ribs. She took a slow step toward the tree, the heels of her boots sinking uncomfortably into the damp turf. Up close, the dark substance wasn't paint. It was a thick, oozing liquid seeping directly out of a crack high up the bark, pooling into the grooves and running down to the roots. 

When the breeze shifted, a sudden odor hit her—sour and heavy. Several lower branches were already dead, their leaves shriveled into black husks, while the upper branches remained vibrant green.

Anxious for answers, Laura pulled out her phone and snapped several close-up photos. She posted them to her local neighborhood Facebook group with a simple plea: Does anyone know what could be happening to my maple? Within twenty minutes, her phone buzzed. A local tree specialist named Daniel had commented: I live five minutes away. Keep your distance from that liquid. I'm coming over now.