Environmentalists protest poisoning trees in Mendocino County

Environmentalists protested the use of herbicides to kill tan oaks at Mendocino Redwood Company forest land in Comptche on Tuesday.

At least two locked themselves to a logging gate, said Comptche resident Marggie Chandler. She said about 20 people participated in the protest throughout the day.

They object to the so-called “hack-and-squirt” practice of cutting into a tree, then applying herbicides to the wound to kill them. The practice is aimed at restoring redwood tree dominance in coastal forests.

The long-held practice was the subject of a June ballot measure, which declared it a nuisance to leave standing for more than 90 days purposely killed trees over 16 feet tall. It appeared headed to victory June 7, when 60 percent of voters supported Measure V, but the election has yet to be certified.

The measure doesn’t ban hack-and-squirt, but some environmentalists hope that will be the outcome.

Mendocino Redwood Co. officials could not be reached Tuesday afternoon.