Tree Wars In South Florida

Watch out for the tree police in South Florida.

CBS News Correspondent Bobbi Harley reports they're on the loose, cutting down people's citrus trees and making enemies.

A backyard war is raging. It's a war between homeowners who love their citrus trees, and the state, which is determined to stop the spread of citrus canker -- a potentially catastrophic disease that threatens to wipe out an $8.5 billion crop.

Florida's Agricultural Commissioner Bob Crawford says he's appreciates support and cooperation in this effort, but he has received a lot of the opposite-- standoffs, shouts and even songs of protest.

These are the weapons property owners are using in the effort to keep the state's weapons, chain saws and chippers, from cutting down their citrus trees.

"The question is, should the constitutional rights of individuals be trampled on to save an industry?" says Bobbie Tyler.

The answer, under Florida law, is not only are the infected trees to be cut down, but every one within 1,900 feet - healthy or not - has to go.

So the tree police are out in force, carrying out their mandate, but not making many friends.

"Well, it certainly has been tense—a program of this magnitude and working at the speed that we have to work, mistakes can happen and do happen," says Mark Fagan of the Florida citrus canker eradication program.

So far, the program has cost $170 million and almost 1 million trees.

In an effort to ease the tension between the tree cutting crews and homeowners, the crews underwent a sensitivity training course this week.

And while that may have made for kinder, gentler work crews, it has been of little comfort to Mary Grant, who had her trees cut down.

"Wouldn't you be mad? Wouldn't you be upset?" she asks.