Trees, like every other living thing, suffer from diseases and parasites. "Witch's broom" is an affliction of the spruce and jack pines along some parts of this trail. It can be caused by a tiny parasitic plant called dwarf mistletoe which bears minute, sticky seeds and is spread on the feet of birds.
Once rooted on its host tree, mistletoe secretes a chemical into it causing it to produce a thick clump of densely-packed twigs growing on club-shaped limbs. It is a condition of out-of-control growth that resembles cancer in animals.
The clump on the spruce in front of you is typical. Keep your eye out for other examples of this disease along the trail.
