Saltwater intrusion is killing the pine trees at northern most end of Hunting Island. Once the saltwater intrudes into the tree’s root system, it’s just a matter of time before it falls over. Official at Hunting Island said an original 400 pine trees were either blown over by Hurricane Matthew or killed by saltwater intrusion. An additional 300 trees, including this one with a ring of death painted around the trunk, have been cut down. A park ranger said he suspects that all the pine trees that are still standing from the camp store to the beach will ultimately be cut down.