So what animal causes this kind of damage?

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CharlieOneSix
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So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#1 Post by CharlieOneSix » Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:22 am

Three years ago I thinned out some trees down our driveway. Over the last two nights seven of those stumps have been attacked by some animal - see photos. There are no signs of any droppings anywhere but there are a couple of holes in the rough grass like the one shown. It's about 5cm in diameter. The impression I have is that the stumps have been gnawed by something with sharp teeth.

Fairly often we get roe deer but this isn't representative of the way they attack branches. Other wildlife we have are moles (but they are carnivorous), brown hares, rabbits, stoats, possibly voles but I have never seen them, and in the distance on two occasions in 20 years, otters. The only beavers in Scotland are in Argyll, well over 100 miles away. So what does the panel think caused this and what do you think lives down that hole? I've never seen this kind of damage before.
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stump3.jpg
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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#2 Post by Undried Plum » Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:59 am

I reckon it's a badger. Hunting for grubs or possibly attracted to the natural sugars in the phloem, or perhaps getting sloshed on the alcohol from fermentation.

The adjacent hole is probably not connected to the tree damage.

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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#3 Post by CharlieOneSix » Mon Aug 27, 2018 12:45 pm

That's one I hadn't considered, Plum! I've never seen any on the property but very occasionally one loses its battle with a vehicle on the adjacent road.
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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#4 Post by CharlieOneSix » Mon Aug 27, 2018 4:46 pm

I had a good look around the area and adjoining fields and found no sign of badger dung pits or setts. However, for the first time in a few years yesterday we had a Great Spotted Woodpecker feasting on peanuts at the house and I wonder whether that could have done the deed whilst feeding on larvae. The stumps are fairly rotten and it wouldn't take much to strip them. I took this photo through glass yesterday:
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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#5 Post by Alisoncc » Mon Aug 27, 2018 4:51 pm

Dependant upon how deep the hole is C16. If it goes all the way down to Australia then it could be a wombat. :D
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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#6 Post by 4mastacker » Mon Aug 27, 2018 6:41 pm

Perhaps it's a local dog. There's videos on yewtewb of dogs chewing tree stumps/logs and leaving a similar mess. The hole is possibly caused by bees or wasps.
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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#7 Post by G-CPTN » Mon Aug 27, 2018 7:03 pm

CharlieOneSix wrote:
Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:22 am
Over the last two nights seven of those stumps have been attacked by some animal.
It is most unlikely that a woodpecker would attack at night (though could be early morning before humans are about).

Certainly possible to be a woodpecker, but the extent of the damage (volume) is a bit beyond a couple of nights - especially if other stumps are likewise affected.

Have you got an escaped anteater roaming about?

Badgers are probably the answer - what else? :-?


WRT the hole(s) - not bees or any insects, as there are stones within the excavated material that are beyond the capability of insects to move.
Probably moles or some sort of forest rat.

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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#8 Post by Undried Plum » Mon Aug 27, 2018 9:53 pm

If it was a woodpecker you'd see lots of small round holes, not ruddy great big chunks of wood. Also, woodpeckers don't feed that low to the ground.

A badger has powerful front legs and claws, so I think it's a badger wot dunnit.

The rat hole is unrelated. Just a rat's hole in the ground.

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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#9 Post by CharlieOneSix » Mon Aug 27, 2018 9:54 pm

I think your suggestions of badgers must be correct but I'd like to know where they are coming from although they must have come up the driveway as I doubt they would be able to get through the Ryelock fencing that goes down both sides to the road 250 yards or so away.

Unlikely to be a local dog as we have no neighbours nearer than a quarter of a mile and we'd usually be made aware if there was a loose dog around - it would not be popular as my neighbours are sheep farmers. I checked my CCTV for last night and part of the area near the only stump within range showed no animal movement.
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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#10 Post by Undried Plum » Mon Aug 27, 2018 10:07 pm

Is it a Black and White telly?

Brock is damn clever that way, y'know.

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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#11 Post by CharlieOneSix » Mon Aug 27, 2018 10:11 pm

Well, yes - black, white and grey CCTV at night, colour by day!
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Re: So what animal causes this kind of damage?

#12 Post by Undried Plum » Mon Aug 27, 2018 10:18 pm

Sneaky bastards, aren't they?

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