Our small native pecan tree has recently become a snack for some animal. It seems to dine nocturnally.

The strips of bark are uniform in width and length for the most part. The bark is stripped completely around the branch.








Any ideas?

Probably a damn porcupine.

http://igrow.org/gardens/trees...rel-damage-to-trees/

Measure the toof marks.

fox squirrels and/or gray squirrels

http://icwdm.org/wildlife/Squirrels/barkstripping.asp

Fox or grey tree rats.

You never know.

Link




Link to original video: https://youtu.be/HqanqqdGbko

Hmmm...a squirrel sounds right. They've been pretty active here lately, for some reason.

I kinda like the little tree...

I guess I'll scope it out later this week with the BB gun...or maybe a suppressed .22.

Appreciate the help!

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:


You never know.

That would be awesome to walk out at night and see!

It may be nest building time.

Hovering beaver.

A target. Gat you NVGs or night scope, a thermos of coffee, and comfortable chair and standby.

quote:

Originally posted by rusbro:
Hovering beaver.

That reminds me of one of my ex-wives.

Probably squirrel or porcupine. Both the Porkies and squirrels prefer horizontal branches but not 100%. If it's a porky you can make out the chiseling on the wood from their teeth. Any chisel marks from a squirrel will be very small. The shavings you have in your hand make me think squirrels, they do like Pecan bark. Fox squirrels are more likely to bark strip than greys but again that is not a hard and fast rule.

Mice and voles can also bark strip but they do damage close to the ground under cover of snow or dense brush. Rabbits and beaver bark strip but obviously also close to the ground.

There is a remote chance it's birds but in my experience they strip bark to get to bugs, and I haven't seen them go all the way around a branch or stem.

Put a trap out and see what you get. I suggest a live trap so you don't get your or the neighbors pets.

Could be an Elephant fly.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
Could be an Elephant fly.

Dumbo is the only elephant I know that can fly.

Is this happening after dark? Squirrels are crepuscular.