What's done this? Squirrel? Lion?

[Stereo]

Just seen this little syc which has been skinned by something almost overnight. The delicate work on the thin branches probably rules out tigers which is lucky. Must be squirrels but they've put some effort into it.

[Stereo]

[Stephen Blair]

Row deer scratching fluffy antlers

[Stereo]

[Pat Ferrett]

Deer

[Stereo]

We don't get many round here. It looks like its been nibbled rather than scratched. The stuff on the floor is the bark peeled off in 6" lengths. The top stuff is at least 8 foot up.

[nepia]

Saw the same a few days ago on a semi-mature sycamore: completely ring-barked by strips at ground level and patches of bark missing at 15' or more height. There are a lot of squirrels around this year; does sycamore have exceptionally sweet bark being a maple? This is in West Sussex btw.

[Paul Smith]

Roe deer could be marking their territory on the lower bit but I think it's squirrels, certainly not the 8ft stuff.

[Brushcutter]

Yep it's squirrels. Round here it's a real problem. I've seen trees in worse states that that one. Beech Hornbeam Sycamore any thin barked tree is being eaten by the little buggers.

[sussexlad]

This looks like squirrel to me, 8 foot a bit high aswell unless you got some big reds, which may have done a bit more damage!! seems wrong time of year for deer in velvet. im seeing quite a bit of squirrel damage in the woods at the moment.

 

solution= squirrel bashing day(+dreys!)