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We rent out primitive campsites out in our woods on our farm… just a fire pit, tables,chairs, grill, etc. Nothing fancy.
We recently had a group of guests damage a large oak tree (~24" diameter) by repeatedly throwing axes into its base. In addition there is ax damage in about 7 other small trees around the campsite. The campsite is not near any buildings, so hiring a tree service company to remove a potential hazard is not an issue. We hope the tree is able to heal and we won’t need to cut it down.
We did not have a rules sign at the site saying “do not damage trees, or else…” Kind of thought common sense would dictate, but here we are. We intend on posting signs up at all the sites explicitly stating not to damage trees in the future.
I think the estimated timber value is only about $150 (not that i was planning on harvesting it and sending it to the mill).
The guests said one guy in their group got drunkenly carried away while the rest of them were out and they were sorry.
Has anyone else dealt with something like this?
Should we ask for compensation? If so, how much is a reasonable fine/claim for this incident?
In the future how much should a posted tree damage fine be in order to prevent others from doing more of the same?
I might even make designated ax throwing targets so the trees are spared haha.
Wow, this is a new one! Maybe worth having an arborist appointment to check the trees and make recommendations. That way you would have a specific amount to charge the guest.
For example, I had a tree wound with insects and the arborist visited and suggested insecticide and covering with plastic for 24 hours, to help the tree get started scabbing it over or whatever it is trees do, so that was a professional fee and supplies.
I know you were joking about the axe throwing targets – can you even imagine what your insurance company would say to that “Airbnb Experience”?
Wow – I would also consider such a sign but, then, this is how Airbnbs get ridiculed or guests complain of too many rules. I think I would include it in the rules you have relating to fires and campsite code of conduct. But I’d not do the sign (and I have lots of signs/labels).
Right or wrong, I give a lot of weight to this honesty and candor.
I don’t think you have any receipts, right? So you cannot yet prove damages. Plus, you don’t have a specific rule about this, right? [EDIT that last question out; this is covered by Airbnb ground rules and common sense.]. No any mention of a generic fine, right? [Though this bad guest behavior – causing damage – would violate Airbnb ground rules.]. So, if the guest protested, I feel you’d be investing more energy in this than it’s worth it, feel frustrated. I’d let it go.
I think I’d say something like: " Axes and trees might seem to your friend like they were meant for each other, but our tree disagrees. We’ll see if and how it recovers from this more than close encounter with flying axes. Thank you so much for your forthright candor and let’s hope for the best."
In Ca it it is illegal to chop an oak tree and you get heavily fined unless it is dead. Sounds like a crazy guest! The wood may be worth more than you expect.
That’s ridiculous. No one needs to have a rule saying guests shouldn’t damage the property. Do hosts have a rule saying guests aren’t allowed to set fire to the house? That they can’t carve their initials in the coffee table? Not to chop down the apple tree in the backyard?
This is covered by Airbnb ground rules and common sense.
BUT, it’s OK to carve your and your loved one’s name at the Colosseum because you didn’t know it was an ancient thing. [We really need to work on our K-12 education here.]
Actually, I read that guy who carved his initials in the Colesseum has been identified and is being charged. “I didn’t know, I’m sorry” is going to do him little good.
Why should he go to jail? Jail is a place where people who are a danger to society belong. Fines and being banned from an area are appropriate consequences for something like this.
Some would say fines are a way to make anything ok for the rich. I suspect a jail term and worldwide notoriety mentioning that was the punishment would stop well off copy cats in their tracks.
You think everyone who gets fined is rich? This is just some guy, not a billion dollar corporation pumping out carcenogenic pollution from its factories making people ill.
Putting someone in prison for stupidly defacing property would be a travesty of justice and serve no purpose.
I don’t believe in filling jails with people who aren’t a danger to others, their incarceration being paid for by the taxpayers.
Too many people think in terms of punishment, rather than logical consequences for unacceptable behavior.
I would call in an arborist to evaluate the damage and repair it if possible. Then I would send the bill for the arborist to the guest and to Airbnb through the claim center.
We just noticed some of our bark coming apart from a tree, took pictures and sent to our arborist. So we’ll see what they say, but the point is that you can do this perhaps from emails.
My online research suggested a ‘wait and see’ approach, like wait a year or so, or longer. It all depends on the nature of the damage. The online research for our situation suggested that the tree might grow more slowly, might be more susceptible to disease, but would likely survive.
We’ll see what the arborist says. Again, the financial cost of the damage for the OP can be impossible to objectively ascertain.
review :
Wow, we had the privilege of hosting a group of lumberjack wannabes at our campsite. Not only did they turn our tranquil woods into their personal axe-throwing arena, but they also decided to test the resilience of our majestic oak tree. Apparently, common sense wasn’t part of their camping gear. We were left with a beautifully scarred oak and a few traumatized saplings. But hey, they were sorry, so I guess that makes it all okay. In case you’re wondering, no, we don’t offer a ‘tree massacre’ package. Come visit us if you’re looking for a peaceful retreat, minus the wannabe lumberjacks.
Sadly when you have campgrounds you’re occasionally going to attract the axe-throwing type. (Until now I didn’t realise that there was such a thing).
Chucking an axe around seems to be pretty dangerous behaviour to me - I mean dangerous for any passing people, pets or kids.
Unfortunately, I imagine that trying to get any sort of compensation could be very time-consuming and not necessarily successful (I can imagine the axe man saying “I was only doing what I saw my old grandpappy doing when I was a boy in the backwoods” or something equally daft.)
Going forward I’d put a tree guard around the tree. Yes, it spoils the natural woodlands camping experience but when you / co-host / site manager show guests to their pitch the guard can be pointed out along with a friendly lecture about protecting the natural beauty of the landscape.
I’ve had that argument with CS reps about fines for smoking. If all I can do is fine (let’s say $300US) for smoking, and the stay is six nights, it’s the same as simply increasing the rate $50 a night for a smoking rate vs a non-smoking rate.
