With the cold, long winter and heavy snow that stayed on the ground for a while, animals were looking for something to eat. As the snow goes away and temperatures moderate, there is evidence of animal dagame. The question is “Which animal?” The only way we can really determine what animal actually caused the damage is to witness the feeding first hand (quite unlikely), or have a trail camera with footage of the feeding.
To start with, where on the tree or shrub is the damage? We will look at 4 possible animals that can cause winter damage. A deer, a squirrel, mouse/ voles and rabbits. Where the damage occurs can be an indication as to which animal was the culprit. Of course, the only true way to determine for sure who did the damage is to catch them in the act! Which is pretty hard to do.
Mice and Voles can also do damage as Ashley Kulhanek points out in the following post:
https://bygl.osu.edu/node/2458
If the damage is high in a tree as on this Yellow Buckeye,
chances are it was a squirrel. Unless you happen to have a giraffe living nearby, which is unlikely.
Along with the fact this Buckeye is surrounded by Oak Trees,
a great nesting site for squirrels, there is a high probability a squirrel (squirrels) did the damage.
Another indication is tree/shrub bark shavings on the ground below the damage.
Remember, nor all squirrels are tan. Some can be black as well.
More information on Squirrel damage can be found below in this post by Joe Boggs:
If the damage is in the middle of the tree or shrub, it could have been either a squirrel or a deer. Both will browse in the lower level of the plants.
But a deer will only feed on what they can reach.
DON’T climb trees!
Deer love to browse on Japanese Yew aka Taxus.
They will strip any foliage they can reach.
They will also feed on Arborvitae but do more to misshape the plant.
But in a cemetery setting, it provides a level of interest. And you can see the gravestones more clearly.
If the damage is near the base of the plant as on this Burning Bush,
which happened to be covered with snow for weeks or months, this winter, chances are it was rodent damage, most likely a rabbit or mice.
Will this feeding hurt trees? If the damage is simply ends of branches that were nipped by an animal, chances are it will be just fine. Although evergreens that have experienced heavy deer browsing will not die but may lose their shape as in this Arborvitae.
If the damage is extensive as on this Burning Bush
or Maple,
the tree or shrubs may be girdled, severing the vascular cambium and causing the plant to die.
This damage can also open the plant to insects and disease.
For more information, check out the following video on controlling nuisance wildlife:
https://extension.osu.edu/today/nuisance-wildlife
So, get out there and look up, or look down but wear a hat and gloves.
I guess Punxsutawney Phil was right on February 2nd, 6 more weeks of winter!
