Damaged Maple - What Animal?

18 years ago

I'm not sure if where I should post this exactly, and who knows if anyone will actually know, but I'll take a chance.

As you can see from the picture, there are multiple holes/deep scratches from claws as well as rubbing(?) like marks, and possibly small teeth scratches at the bottom right (can barely see, sorry). Then there's the large missing chunk of bark, which looks like from bottom teeth scraping upwards. The image will best describe it. It is on the lower half of the tree, and I have two other trees that have similar missing chunks from teeth: one at the base of the young maple and the other is a smaller gash higher up on a young crabapple.

My house backs to woods, and I know we have fox, racoon, skunk, deer, voles, moles, squirrels, chipmunks and fishers. Who knows what else.

Thoughts on what might have done this? I'm assuming the tree will survive, but I'd like to know what I'm up against if I'm to prevent it from happening more.

Image link:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
18 years ago
it doesnt matter....

take a sharp razor.. and cut off the flaps ...

get some chicken wire .. and cage it ...

cant tell how high off the ground.. that might help ID.. if you are real curious.. add some loose soil.. so you can get a foot print ...

do you have a lawn service.. or a weedwhip ???

there is nothing wrong with this alleged injury ... dont waste another thought on worrying about it dying...

ken
evening
Original Author
18 years ago
I am real curious, and caging is my last resort. It is about 12-18 inches off the ground, though the claw holes go up higher.

And it is not due to lawn care -- we haven't even started mowing yet here in NW Vermont :) [and it happened in April]

I've been thinking of making a dirt patch close by to see what animals come through (there's a specific path they use, maybe 5 feet from this tree), so maybe I will actually do that. Perhaps I'll be able to figure it out then by process of elimination.
Related Professionals
Springfield Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Scranton Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lancaster Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Chatham Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Sanford Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · San Antonio Landscape Contractors · Fargo Landscape Contractors · Hackettstown Landscape Contractors · California Kitchen Remodelers · St. Louis Kitchen Remodelers · Greenville Kitchen Remodelers · Bangor Kitchen Remodelers · Sheboygan Kitchen Remodelers · Temecula Kitchen Remodelers · Edmonton Kitchen Remodelers
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
18 years ago
i was thinking a foot print might help ...

but.. it seems.. that it was a transitory one time event ... has the culprit come back???

perhaps you are trying to fix something that doesnt need fixing ...

but i would still be interested in tracing foot prints...

good luck

ken