Termites in my Big Red Oak (w/ pics)

So I've been watching this tree since we moved to the property last year. It's definitely the biggest tree we have in the yard. I measured and it's 40 inches DBH and I don't even know how tall. But it's looked a little sickly to me over the winter (up top there's a bunch of branch rot) but it's still kicking and growing leaves like all the rest this spring.

However, yesterday I finally went and inspected the base real well and found some hollow sounding areas and lots of signs of termites.

My question is should I just take this tree down now or is there something that can be done about the termites? I suppose you can treat them out of the tree but at least some of the base and root ball is no doubt compromised at this point.

let me know yall's thoughts, thanks! Pics below:

 

If it fails, whole tree falling over, is there risk to people, or property? My experience with red oaks is that if there is a visible decay cavity, it’s highly likely the decay column extends the entire length of the trunk.

 

Ants and termites are mining out the already dead tissue.

 

I don't think it could reach the house but it could certainly crush my driveway and potentially a vehicle. If it fell it would almost certainly destroy my other trees that are near it.

 

Formosan solider?

 

Da'mn bugs

 

Drop it and spray the bugs.
Get what wood you can now.

 

Did you put the "x' on the tree? Or is that a road and the road crew marked it?

 

yeah that was me. marked it for the tree service guy to look at later.

 

Tree service guy will tell you it’s gonna crush your house and kill everyone inside and your neighbors if you don’t have him remove it tomorrow for $6500.

 

X2..

 

I'd take it down.

 

Ive run into them a couple times here in the last few years. Once in a dead ash i took down, the other in some oak rounds.
Here's the two threads
Termite be insects in this dead ash...yup i was right!
The TERMITEinator!

 

That's what I was thinking!

 

I'm gonna take it down. Will send pics when it happens. Hopefully I get a good bit of wood out of it too

 

You should get some good wood from it. Limbs and even the trunk will have a good rim. Split off or spray the parts with termites. I usually give them a little drink of mix gas...they like that...