Usually the bark removal on my property is done by pack rats. They strip large sections of bark anywhere they can reach. I've gotten the point that I blame them for nearly all the bark damage.

But this damage extends much to high up the tree. And the marks look like big teeth. So I'm thinking beaver? One passed through a few months ago. I haven't noticed any other signs of it.

I do not think it is beaver. they have more definite teeth marks.

got porkies in that part of kansas?

Not beaver...do you have quill pigs ?

Any sheep near by ?

no sheep.

I've never seen a porcupine, but I'm told the prior owner shot one on this property.

now you have me wondering if some the damage I've been blaming on pack rats might be porcupine also... Is it likely to come back to that same tree to chew some more? Its a hackberry and there's not a lot of them on the property.


Some of what I blame on rats certainly is rats - they build some nests at chest height in the forks of some trees and chew the bark off inside their nest. So that's definately rats. But I guess some of the other damage I blame on rats could be porcupine.

Is there water close by?

yes, that tree less than 10 yards from a creek bed.

That looks like a porky was chewing to me.

looks like high water damage??

hogs do that. Sometimes they do that to trees partially damaged by beavers. Sometimes there will be hairs and dried mud from rubbing, but not always.

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

It's beaver, see it all the time in my area.