Experts, wood exporters try to tally trees lost during Ontario ice storm

Researchers say Southern Ontario can't afford to lose more trees, but work can be done to mitigate the effects -- which include an increased risk of flooding - in urban areas.

For those living in the community of Peterborough, Ont., the deafening sound of chainsaws seems to billow from every corner.

“If you drive around the city, it’s carnage. There’s debris down everywhere,” said Evan Noland.

The arborist, and owner of New Growth Tree Care, hasn’t had a chance to breathe since March 28 — the day a devastating ice storm came crashing through the province, and lasted more than two days.

Weighed down by almost 20 mm of ice buildup, trees and power lines started tumbling at alarming rates in northern, southern, and eastern parts of Ontario — wreaking havoc on property and wildlife, and plunging hundreds of thousands in the dark.

As of early Friday evening, close to 121,000 Hydro One customers were still without power.

“This is probably the worst (damage) I’ve seen,” said Noland, whose been in the tree business for almost a decade.

“The 2022 derecho — that was a pretty bad storm. But honestly, it doesn’t even compare to what I see now. There’s people that have come up from as far as Timiskaming — that’s five hours away — to respond and help.”

With tree limbs strewn around hundreds of sidewalks in the city, the number of trees lost may seem immense.