Dark Slime Puss Like Substance On Pine Tree Stump

Question From: Chiloquin, Oregon, United States
Q: I live in southern oregon so we have mostly pines on the property i found a stump that was cut about 5 years ago and now there is a slime puss like dark black stuff oozing from the base any idea what it is?

A: Mother Nature is doing her stuff. Slime puss is probably some sort of mold - we call it slime mold. That's how nature deals with waste. Without it we would have been buried long ago. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy