What’s eating the tree ?

[sawdust]

Now the big question is are we looking for a long haired beaver ,a short haired beaver or a Sheared beaver?

You’ve obviously too much time on your hands just now...

 

[davidroberts30]

You’ve obviously too much time on your hands just now...

Really

 

[Kidds]

My first guess would be hare but can’t tell if it’s too high for a hare.
The tree guards are much more effective if the cut edge goes along the top. Looks like the cut edges have been used as the join leaving the top of the guard smooth. You get a barbed wire effect the other way.
The tree will survive, the bark is not completely gone. I’ve seen rabbits do much worse and the tree will not be bothered much. It’s only when they get down to the wood or on much younger trees that it’s a problem.

Spray the trunks with thiram if you have got any, or garlic if you haven’t. Both stop animals from eating the bark or at least dramatically reduce it.

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

The damage getting worse when the sheep are removed suggests deer to me. Looks too high up to be rabbit or hare?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Bambi for sure - trail cam will prove it

 

[Cowabunga]

 

[spin cycle]

Now the big question is are we looking for a long haired beaver ,a short haired beaver or a Sheared beaver?

damn good question..............i don't think we can rule out brazilian beaver

 

[yellowbelly]

It's a bit of a mystery
I wouldn't rule out these guys - they get everywhere



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[kill]

The owner thought it was my sheep, so I took them out and the problem has got worse.

No footprints at all in the field that we can see, so obviously not a very big animal.

I have sheep in on winter keep as the bugger's have done the same to every tree in my orchard
Hate sheep even more now

 

[ShooTa]

you have to have sheep in orchard during the growing season -not during winter according to that orchard study on silvopasture.

looks like deer to me looking at the two teeth scrapes.

 

[Yale]

Put some stockholm tar on the trunk.

Surely once the outer bark has got that tree is finished.

 

[TheTallGuy]

Trees can survive significant damage/loss to the bark, but being open like that increases the risk of infection or spores entering the tree.

 

[spin cycle]

I have sheep in on winter keep as the bugger's have done the same to every tree in my orchard
Hate sheep even more now

shropshire sheep have the 'selling point' that they don't eat trees

 

[michael N123]

It’s a deer .243 required

 

[Osca]

If it is totally ring-barked it is finished, unless you make a bridging graft to allow it to transfer nutrients; but if a strip of cambium remains joining the top of the tree to the bottom, so to speak, it could survive if protected with a bit of wire netting round the trunk; the missing layers will gradually grow back and heal the wound.

 

[Osca]

shropshire sheep have the 'selling point' that they don't eat trees

Is it true though?

 

[spin cycle]

Is it true though?

see their website