The tree was cut down illegally overnight May 8-9 and fell onto La Jolla Boulevard. The vandalism has been reported to San Diego police.

Information is once again being sought in the vandalism – and destruction – of a Canary Island pine tree in Bird Rock.

The tree was located in the median between Colima and Forward streets and closest to 5443 La Jolla Blvd and fell sometime overnight May 8-9 into the street; Bird Rock Maintenance Assessment District manager Matt Mangano and Urban Landcare crew members responded at 4:30 am May 9 to remove the 25-foot tree from the road.

The pine tree was partially cut with a handsaw in February; there appears to have been further damage on May 6, according to an email from the Bird Rock Community Council.

Additional cuts May 8 or May 9 resulted in the tree’s fall.

In February, Mangano reported the tree damage was similar to a 2019 incident, in which saw marks at the same location resulted in the loss and removal of an adjacent pine tree.

The replacement costs for those trees exceed $30,000 each, Mangano said.

San Diego police and the city of San Diego’s Parks & Recreation Department have been notified of the destruction, although there are no suspect leads at this time, the email states.

Mangano said in February he had received tips a nearby homeowner may have been attempting to cut down the tree to create an unobstructed ocean view.

“It is difficult to comprehend what would motivate someone to commit such a major act of vandalism on public property,” the BRCC email states. “Fortunately, to our knowledge, no one was hit or hurt.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mangano at admin@manganoconsulting.com or BRCC at info@BirdRockCC.org.