It smells like peanut butter, and it fights back. 🌳☠️ We investigate the war against the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), an invasive species that poisons the soil and clones itself if you try to cut it down. We break down the "Hack and Squirt" protocol—a surgical method of chemical warfare designed to trick the tree into killing its own roots.

1. The "Hydra" Effect: We analyze the biology. If you cut a Tree of Heaven, it doesn't die; it panics. The root system releases a horde of fast-growing clones, turning one tree into a forest. We explain why conservationists must use "Forest Espionage"—attacking the tree slowly so it doesn't realize it's dying until it's too late.

2. The "Hack and Squirt" Method: It’s not logging; it’s surgery. We expose the technique. Crews use hatchets to make precise cuts ("frilling") and immediately apply herbicide. We discuss the chemistry of Allelopathy—how the tree wages chemical war on native plants—and why it is the primary host for the destructive Spotted Lanternfly.

3. The Poverty Wages: Who fights the war? We explore the economics. The frontline soldiers are AmeriCorps crews living in tents on a $280/week stipend. We discuss the crisis of the "Conservation Corps" model, where experienced leaders are driven out by debt, leaving our forests defended by an underfunded, transient workforce.

The full list of sources used to create this episode can be found on our Patreon under https://www.patreon.com/c/Morgrain