Young beech trees are being attacked, see first 2 pics. Similar but minor bark damage on mature sugar maple, 3rd pic. Anyone else seen this kind of damage lately? Pics resized by Dan below, muchas gracias mi amigo.
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skwerl or something biting bark
- Thread starter treeseer
- Start date
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MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
The pic is so small, it's hard to tell.
Can you enlarge it somehow?
Can you enlarge it somehow?
begleytree
H. sapiens moderatus
Guy, I've seen that kind of damage from horses. Haven't seen anything like that outa their reach.
-Ralph
-Ralph
jay
ArboristSite Lurker
Can you tell me at what height the marks are?
Also, are you seeing the damage expand as you come back to the same tree for observation?
Also, are you seeing the damage expand as you come back to the same tree for observation?
JamesTX
ArboristSite Operative
You're right, it definately looks like rodent teeth, but I've never seen damage like that before. Except when the neighborhood kids took a claw hammer to a tree down at the local park.
Yes, some areas chewed last year are being expanded this year. Definite skwerl. I peoposed a 3-pronged strategy:jay said:
Install baffles on lower stem to deter climbing.
Drench bark adjacent to chewed areas with tabasco sauce, or loosely wrap w burlap.
Fert to boost rate of scarring.
Systemic repellents to drench the roots with are being explored.
JamesTX
ArboristSite Operative
Have you had some unusual weather lately that has decreased the squirrels natural food source? There must be a reason that they are starting to chew bark lately. Putting out alternate food sources may distract them from chewing bark.
Is this damage on a few trees only or is it wide spread throughout your area? If it's very localized, it may be one squirrel doing all the damage. A live trap or poison (depending on your beliefs) would solve that problem.
Is this damage on a few trees only or is it wide spread throughout your area? If it's very localized, it may be one squirrel doing all the damage. A live trap or poison (depending on your beliefs) would solve that problem.
texasnative
ArboristSite Operative
I have seen squirrel scarring like this in tree tops. I don't run across it often, 2 or 3 times a year.
Treeseer: I don't know if installing baffles at the bottom of the tree would deter a squirrel for long, especially if there are other trees in the area that would provide access to the canopy of the tree. Tabasco sauce is a good idea. I have a similar method that I use which works for all manner of critters (yellow bellied sapsuckers, aphids on roses, squirrels, you name it). I take five garlic cloves and five cayenne peppers and puree them in the blender. Mix that with a gallon of water and add a tablespoon of molasses (for residual value) and a tablespoon of citrus oil for good measure.
Squirrels are creatures of habit. They have a route that they follow every day. They do not deviate from this route. Have you ever watched the little tree rats after your done with a takedown that was part of their route? Drives em nuts. They will circle around back and forth from one tree to the next trying to find a way into the tree which was just removed from their route and exists no more.
Treeseer: I don't know if installing baffles at the bottom of the tree would deter a squirrel for long, especially if there are other trees in the area that would provide access to the canopy of the tree. Tabasco sauce is a good idea. I have a similar method that I use which works for all manner of critters (yellow bellied sapsuckers, aphids on roses, squirrels, you name it). I take five garlic cloves and five cayenne peppers and puree them in the blender. Mix that with a gallon of water and add a tablespoon of molasses (for residual value) and a tablespoon of citrus oil for good measure.
Squirrels are creatures of habit. They have a route that they follow every day. They do not deviate from this route. Have you ever watched the little tree rats after your done with a takedown that was part of their route? Drives em nuts. They will circle around back and forth from one tree to the next trying to find a way into the tree which was just removed from their route and exists no more.
NYCHA FORESTER
ArboristSite Operative
I'm thinking porcupine damage if not squirrel.
I like porcupine. It dosn't look like typical squirrel damage, the injury looks to be on the lower part of the trunk, not the tops. Squirrels seem to like chewing on harder wood also. I see cankering around the injuries with poor compartmentalize months after attacks.
