Which pest caused this & what protection would you recommend?

[LionelMandrake]

Hi folks,

 

I've just noticed these marks on a tree trunk and wanted to know what I should be protecting against. Rabbits and Muntjac have both been seen in the area. The chicken wire visible in the picture was flattened and has now been reinstated.

 

Thank you in anticipation.

 

Mark

[Peasgood]

Rabbit most likely but looks so superficial it could be voles. Voles will do it but not usually so far up the trunk. If the wire was trampled and overgrown with grass/weeds I would say definitely vole.

[MattyF]

Rabbits I would of thought , muntjac damage I’ve seen is usually higher up and and a lot more aggressive.

[Gary Prentice]

Think that the chicken wire is too flimsy to be effective. 

 

I'd either staple it to a couple of small posts (to keep it up) or replace it with a ring of pig netting, which would be more self-supporting but possibly less effective to rabbits