Beloved carvings are no longer at Umstead park. What happened to the animal tree?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- A century-old oak carved with foxes, owls and other creatures was removed.
- The tree fell in 2017, and a 25-foot log was decorated by carvers.
- NC State Parks confirmed removal due to decay and said plans for a new installation exist.
The fallen oak tree carved with foxes, owls and other woodland creatures that turned forest debris into outdoor art has been removed from Umstead State Park, having decayed after a decade on display.
The century-old tree fell in 2017, and rather than haul if off, ranger Jessica Phillips commissioned a pair of chainsaw artists to decorate a 25-foot log lying along the Graylyn Multi-use Trail — a wooded portion of the Raleigh park reachable only with hiking boots, knobby tires or a horse.
It became its own draw inside the massive forest — a landmark tucked inside 5,000 acres.
“They gave me a list of animals,” chainsaw carver Jerry Reid told The N&O in 2017. “They told me they definitely didn’t want any bears or wolves. I could probably have put a skunk in there.”
Deserves to be remembered
The NC State Parks division confirmed the tree’s removal due to decay Tuesday and said plans for a new art installation are in the works. Multiple fans online noted that the tree had shown signs of rotting and likely posed a hazard for people climbing on it — though climbing was not allowed.
“The last time I saw it, I noticed how worn and decayed it looked,” wrote Heather Leah, a Raleigh writer who explores hidden history. “Several of the little forest critters had faces worn away, or were missing bits and pieces. Realizing the log may soon be gone, I snapped a few close-up photos of the critters that remained, still looking happy and cozy in their little cubby homes inside the log.”
Despite the tree’s removal, the North Carolina Traveler blog left up an old Facebook post offering advice on finding and appreciating the carved trunk, saying it deserved to be remembered.
“You go to see the art,” it read. “So take a minute. Walk around it. Notice the details. Look for the animals. Appreciate the fact that a fallen tree got a second life instead of being hauled away.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 7:30 AM with the headline "Beloved carvings are no longer at Umstead park. What happened to the animal tree?."