Authorities warn of 'zombie trees' this hurricane season

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Authorities have issued a warning about "zombie trees" in your neighborhood, saying they could fall over at any time. These are trees that appear to be alive on the outside but are dead on the inside.

Arborists say hurricanes are the culprit for a lot of dead and dying trees, and after hurricanes Irma and Matthew, many of them have already been removed.  Often the wind and rain from a hurricane are just too much. 

“Trees will respond to stress. They'll manifest leaves and flowers and growth, and then they can die. It's not an uncommon thing.”

Certified master arborist Dr. Donald Spence says the health of a tree depends on many factors, including where it’s planted, if it’s native and its species. Because of that, he says your best bet at keeping your trees health is to have them regularly checked by a professional. 

“They’re usually able to develop some evidence where the trees are in a state that they're not going to recover,” said Dr. Spence. 

But there are things the average homeowner can look for too, such as soft spots in the wood, loss of leaves or branches and the bark coming off. If a tree is, in fact, dead, Dr. Spence says have it removed soon.

“Trees can fall over and cause tremendous loss of property and even loss of life,” said Dr. Spence.

Another arborist told Fox 35 News that a lot of trees have been dying in the Volusia and Seminole County areas