Tree-Spiking Claim Near Enbridge Line 5 Reroute Highlights Environmental Sabotage Tactics
Executive Summary
A post on an anarchist website claims that activists spiked dozens of trees along the proposed reroute of Enbridge’s Line 5 in Iron County, near the Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin. The message includes a warning directed at Enbridge and logging crews, stating that spikes of varying materials and sizes were intentionally placed to damage equipment and disrupt construction. If accurate, this reflects a deliberate act of eco-sabotage intended to halt infrastructure development rather than injure workers. The incident aligns with historic tactics used by radical environmental groups during pipeline disputes in the Upper Midwest and the Pacific Northwest.
Analysis
The claimed tree-spiking activity fits a familiar pattern of sabotage associated with eco-extremist actors who oppose pipeline construction on environmental and anti-corporate grounds. The post’s language emphasizes resistance, secrecy, and sabotage while also attempting to distance the actors from intent to harm workers. Tree-spiking remains dangerous regardless of stated intentions and has historically resulted in severe injuries, making this type of action a significant concern for law enforcement and industry security teams.
The statement on Unravel (noblogs.org) asserts that activists walked the eastern section of the proposed Line 5 easement and inserted steel, aluminum, and ceramic spikes into cedar, oak, cherry, and maple trees at varying heights and intervals. The authors claim the aim is to “stop Enbridge” and that the spikes could damage or destroy logging or milling machinery.
The anonymous group warns logging crews not to cut trees along the easement, stating that while some spikes pose “no threat,” others are large enough to cause equipment failure or injury. This combination of threat and denial of intent to harm mirrors past justifications used by saboteurs in radical environmental movements.
The post’s language echoes long-standing anti-pipeline narratives in the region, including opposition to Enbridge’s Line 3 and Line 5 projects by environmental activists, Indigenous groups, and eco-anarchist networks. The emphasis on vulnerability of workers, machinery, and construction timelines is consistent with past sabotage actions in forested areas near controversial infrastructure projects.
Although the message’s authorship cannot be verified, and tree-spiking claims posted online sometimes exaggerate or fabricate actions, the specificity of the description and its alignment with known tactics warrant attention from local law enforcement and industry security units. The warning may also be intended to provoke operational delays even if the claimed sabotage is incomplete or symbolic. Tree-spiking poses risks not only to construction but also to emergency responders and sawmill workers far removed from the site, highlighting the wider safety implications of such actions.
