About Our Team

Josh Vratil

Owner

Josh started Bearclaw Arborist in 2006 in honor of his fathers custom cabinetry business Bearclaw Builders. Josh spent several years learning from some of the best arborists in the world, who specialized in the areas of climbing, felling, rigging, and tree diagnosis. Josh continues to stay current with the latest equipment and techniques available to be the best, and give the greatest care to your trees.

Aiden Jenkins

Climber

Aiden started with us in 2019 and quickly advanced to our lead climber. With a background in rock climbing and his vast experience with outdoor activities such as whitewater raft guiding, hiking, climbing, snowcat guiding, skiing, and off grid wilderness camping, he quickly picked up the skills to excel in arboriculture. With careful classroom instruction and field work, he has become a skilled and knowledgeable tree worker.

Brandon Grimes

Rope Handler, Ground Operations Manager

Brandon joined Bearclaw Arborist in 2016 and has since become a valued asset and member of the team. Brandon excels in quality work with exacting detail in all ground operations.  We have given Brandon the nickname of “The Machine”, as his exceptional strength has replaced the need for a grapple or skidsteer! Brandon even caught an entire tree as we felled it to keep it from squishing the floral landscape!  Brandon is always happy to do what is right, and get the job done properly.

Evan Wheeler (ret.)

Climber

Evan is like a formula 1 race car driver. He is fast, agile, elegant, and experienced. He has been climbing for Bearclaw Arborist since 2009, and his love of trees is why Evan is our #1climber.

Chris Cheevers (ret.)

Rope Handler, Ground Safety

Cheevers has been with Bearclaw Arborist since 2010, and has excelled managing operations on the ground. He is responsible for watching for the climbers safety and managing the climbers lifeline, as well as running the numerous rigging ropes that the climber sets.

Services

Pruning

Pruning dead, diseased, or storm damaged limbs and shaping of your tree for structural, health, and aesthetic purposes.

We prune using the latest techniques, primarily the teachings of Dr. Alex Shigo, a world renowned Tree Specialist.   His research revolutionized the way climbing and pruning are performed for the health of the tree.

We climb all our trees, preferring the agility and mobility that ropes provide to be closer to the tree, and to get to areas that are inaccessible by a lift truck.  We spend longer on the branches that we are working on, allowing us to see trouble areas that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Removal

Removals, including extremely large, and difficult trees, either around power, or over houses or streets.

If you need a tree removed, Bearclaw Arborist can do it.  From small to large, over houses, fences, even power lines, we can skillfully remove your tree.  We are fully skilled in all aspects of rigging and lowering limbs softly to the ground.  No need to worry about sprinklers or cracked driveways.

Consultations

Consultation, of tree health, possible dangers to property owners or the public. Design of landscaping and tree selection, including transplanting. Diagnosis of tree pathogens, insects and treatment.

If you have a question, we can help.  Do you need to know how to treat for a bug that  is making your tree look sick, we can help.  Need to know if that last storm compromised a major limb, we can help.  Are you thinking of re-landscaping but aren’t sure what trees are best for your climate, area, pollution or drought tolerance, we can help.

Contact

bearclawarborist@gmail.com

(720)-363-2334

Call, text, or email anytime, 7 days a week.