Serbian spruce stolen

First it was Bucky’s costume. Now, it’s one of Bucky’s trees. Over the weekend, one of the eight Serbian spruce trees on campus went missing. Daniel Einstein, environmental management coordinator at the university, noticed this morning that the 8-foot, 23-year-old tree that once stood near the Noland Zoology building was now just a stump. A report is being filed with University Police.

Serbian spruce trees, native to southeastern Europe and planted throughout the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States, are distinctive for their narrow shape, dark green foliage and arching branches.

Einstein says tree thievery is a problem primarily during the holidays. “Christmas-like trees, such as hemlocks and pines, have been stolen in the past,” he says. He points out that while taking a tree from campus may save a few bucks, it could cost the university hundreds – he estimates the value of the stolen Serbian spruce to have been $235. He says it’s likely the university will plant another Serbian spruce somewhere on campus.

“It bears repeating that these are everybody’s trees,” he says, “and cutting them down for your own use is selfish vandalism.”

For more information, contact Einstein at (608) 265-3417 or deinstein@fpm.wisc.edu. Persons having information about the incident should call UW Police at 262-2957, or Campus Crime Stoppers at 262-TIPS. Callers to Campus Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous.