Welfare of Animals in the Christmas Tree Industry

Christmas tree farming and the disposal of natural trees has welfare implications for the wildlife that colonizes living trees and the insects that inhabit cut trees.

Key Facts

An estimated 25-30 million natural Christmas trees are sold in the US annually
Tree farms are managed monocultures with limited wildlife value compared to natural forests
Insects and spiders colonizing farm-grown trees enter homes unintentionally at harvest
Artificial trees have significant plastic and environmental costs over their production lifetime
Urban tree programs that plant living trees for later replanting provide the best ecological outcome

Welfare Considerations

Christmas tree welfare is a minor but illustrative example of how commercial practices affect wildlife. Tree farm monocultures support far less wildlife than mixed forests. Invertebrates that colonize harvested trees are brought into warm homes where they cannot survive. The environmental calculus between natural and artificial trees is complex and depends heavily on how many years the artificial tree is used. Living tree programs that provide long-term urban green space are the most ecologically positive option.

What You Can Do

Choose locally grown natural trees over imported artificial ones if purchasing cut trees
Consider living potted trees that can be replanted after the holiday
Support urban tree planting programs as an alternative to seasonal tree consumption
Inspect tree branches before bringing them inside to avoid distressing wildlife colonizers