Hello Jason,

It definitely looks like the ivy is taking over your trees. Ivy can kill trees. It can damage the bark because it clings to it. Ivy can also provide cover to mice and voles as they feed on the bark. Additionally,  the ivy's leaves reduce the amount of light that reaches the tree leaves, thereby reducing the tree's ability to photosynthesize and nourish itself.  Ivy adds weight to tree branches making them susceptible to window damage. See this link:  https://extension.psu.edu/english-ivy-in-the-landscape

Treatment: Cut the ivy stems at the base of the trees. Remove as much ivy as you can reach but do not try to pull it out of the branches. The ivy higher up will die, dry up and fall out of the tree over time. This link leads to a very good article about how to eliminate or reduce ivy growth. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/controlling-english-ivy-in-urban-landscapes. The article shows that glyphosate is the best herbicide to use for killing or reducing the ivy. Application in early spring when there is new growth works best.

Please reach out again if you have additional questions. Sincerely,  Sabine