It's not harmful....don't "get rid of it" ignore it.

Thanks @lindac92...just worried about it harming the tree...what is it exactly?...our dog wonders around the yard sometimes...worried about something potentially dropping to the ground below and him eating it.

It looks like the start of a conk or bracket fungi. While they are not harmful themselves, they do indicate heartwood rot. They typically do not appear unless the rot is well established and that IS harmful to the tree, although many can live for years with this issue.

Thanks @gardengal48 I suppose there’s nothing at this point that I can do to save it? In terms of structural integrity do I need to look into getting rid of the tree overall in general?

No. Once the outward manifestation of the rot occurs - appearance of the conks or brackets - it is too late to do anything. And not much you can do anyway, even if you were to discover earlier.

It might be worth your while to hire an arborist skilled in tree hazard assessment to evaluate the situation. I would be concerned if there were a risk of it falling on something valuable - fence, garage/shed, the house, etc. But as noted, trees can often live for decades with this problem without issue.

it was caused by the pruning stub.. which did not allow the tree to encapsulate the pruning wound.. aka.. heal itself ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffcm&q=encapsulate+the+pruning+wound&iax=images&ia=images

you have to decide that if this tree fails at that point.. what will it fall on.. and if that is a serious problem ... its not that big a deal if its out on a golf course .... it is a big deal .. in suburbia ...

if its a threat .. and it will be a very big threat ... it should be removed ... that it will fall on your neighbors house.. is not a reason to get rid of it... lol ...

in tree time.. usually counted in decades ... nothing might happen for a very long time ... or.. it might happen in the next violent storm... wind.. ice.. etc ... who knows ...

plan on getting rid of it ... sooner or later ...

ken

ps: many tree removers are cheaper in winter ... unless you are calling right after that bad storm ...

Thanks Ken & Gardengal...will definitely bring in an expert (aka an arborist) for some advice. The city I live in requires an arborist report before any tree on private property is taken down. I’m attaching a full view of the backyard as reference...will definitely need to do something seeing how it’s close to other properties.

Maybe the dog has an opinion also

😂🤣 Embothrium

That tree is not a big deal. I wouldn’t worry about risk of toppling. Just prune dead branches as they appear and when the time comes cut it down at the ground.