Something is awfully hungry

[Don in SJ]

Some unknown animal decided to start chewing on a Swamp Maple that is right next to the pond. I am not sure if it is a Squirrel, Groundhog, Muskrat or what. I have to assume a Squirrel, since I know they strip bark for nest making but that is usually up in the branches, never seen anything chew the main trunk before with those chunks taken out...?

Don

 

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[ronwoodcraft]

Thats strange, my guess would be a porcupine. I can't remember seeing them strip bark that low to the ground. I have seen them up higher working on the smaller branches.

 

[wesfrye53]

Wish I could help Don but I don't have a clue other than I KNOW it wasn't me

 

[teverly]

Well i would guess maybe a beaver..looks kinda like what they do to the trees at my brother in laws..

 

[CarolinaDigs]

I agree with Teverly > looks like a beaver has been around !

 

[Don in SJ]

I would have said beaver but the odds of one being on my tiny seasonal stream seem remote, unless a youngun was exploring for a new area. The closest beaver den area is about 1 mile away as the crow flies on an adjoining stream.
Guess I am going to have to catch the critter in action to know for sure.

 

[Don in SJ]

The tree is alive and well, bear are a rare sight in the area so I'm sure that a bear did not do that. Squirrels have been doing some funky things this summer with the lack of rain, maybe one decided to take his frustrations out on the trunk of a tree!

 

[teverly]

The creek by my brother in law is very small..And they travel aways.
What they do is peel the bark off and and then when the tree starts do die they come back and take it down.....

 

[txkickergirl]

How much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood

 

[MPFISH]

check around the tree see if there is any deer tracks that looks like a buck deer rub to me ....mpfish....

 

[wesfrye53]

OK Don,,,,fess up! We know you've been having
therapy on your knee and someone probably gave
you an old folklore recipe for "Bark Beer" ( most
likely Gypsy) that supposedly speeds up the
healing process while at the same time causing
you to see sideways ! And to think you are
trying to blame the missing bark on some poor
creature!

Go ahead and post the recipe so we can all
check it out!

 

[Mona Lisa]

aa battery's marmot has been there. Watch out, Don.

 

[DANGLANGLEY]

check around the tree see if there is any deer tracks that looks like a buck deer rub to me ....mpfish....

I saw a nice 4 point buck (that ran out in front of me, swerve, screech and oooooooooo that's nice) the other evening that still had felt on his rack. Could be rubbing the felt off

 

[ivan salis]

I second the deer rub ---seasons almost here ---the buck was most likely rubbing the velvet off ---accounts fro the long high to low rub marks---you know where to find him come season if you hunt --- Ivan

 

[teverly]

Would be an awful small buck.Most deer rub mid to high,and in all my years of hunting i never saw one peel that much off the tree.....
have you seen any tracks around it.

 

[Don in SJ]

Well, since I know quite a bit about deer and my one bicycle buddy is a former Federal Wildlife Biologist who specialized at one time on Whitetail deer, I can say without a doubt it was not a deer.

No tracks around, the sand is hard there with a very fibrous roots in it so only something running with weight would leave any type of marks.

Yes, the damage is way too low to be a buck rub, I have had a buck rub before on my lot, but it was on Sweet Bay trees (Swamp Magnolia) and not Swamp Maple trees.

I now think that Squirrels did not do it, since they usually peel the bark off for their nest making, I have enough branches in my Tulip trees for comparison and not even close.

I am stumped on this one, I do have groundhogs, muskrats on occasion and other wildlife in the area, I am fairly certain a beaver would not have done damage that way, and it would be a happening if a beaver came to my property from the nearest year round stream.
There have been no new events at all. But I check daily.

Don

 

[wesfrye53]

Aw Don...are you gonna keep the "Bark beer" recipe to yourself?

Hey Buddy....hope the PT is working for ya!

 

[ivan salis]

bears will mark a tree like that too ---their claws will take "chunks" out easily---look for "claw marks" on the scraped area

 

[lumbercamp]

Judging by the amount of bark and wood at the base of the tree, whatever is chewing on the tree is not eating or moving the debris from the area. From your photos it looks like there is loose bark on the tree. It could be a bird searching for grubs or insects under the bark.

 

[Don in SJ]

Judging by the amount of bark and wood at the base of the tree, whatever is chewing on the tree is not eating or moving the debris from the area. From your photos it looks like there is loose bark on the tree. It could be a bird searching for grubs or insects under the bark.

The tree is a very alive Swamp Maple and the bark was not loose or flakey until the critter munched or clawed it. My dog smells the area each morning, more so than any other part of the property, I asked him what he is smelling but I don't understand Corgi talk.

I am forwarding the photos to NJ Fish and Wildlife whom I have worked with for several years and see if someone there has an answer.