white birch tree with many black bark blotches?

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Do the black blotches on white birch bark get down into the sapwood of the tree?

Some of the black marks on the the bark appear to be split open on the bark and  I am unsure if this will affect the ring beneath.

Any help would be appreciated, this tree will be cut down in a few weeks.

[Pat B]

Unless it is a leasion from a disease the grooves in the bark are just like with any bark. Only in the bark and not the wood.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Yeah pat it appears to be more like a leasion in the bark, not the normal grooves. I guess it will be firewood.

[1025 vs]

Can you post aa picture? Birch bark has horizontal "lenticels" which are breathing pores. Could that be what you are seeing? If so, they are only on the surface of the bark. Peel it and they are gone.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

I dont have a pic to post, but some of the leasions on the tree do go vertical.

[Pat B]

If the tree is getting cut anyway peel off some of the bark and see.

[owlbait]

I agree with Pat. It sure can't hurt to see what ya got, and experience it for yourself. That's what my mentors are telling me.  

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Will do,got my fingers crossed it's a good one.