What caused this damage?

[spandit]

 

 

A little birch and a willow had been stripped of bark up to about a foot from the ground, causing them to die. Is this likely to be rabbits or deer?

[Homegrown]

 

 

A little birch and a willow had been stripped of bark up to about a foot from the ground, causing them to die. Is this likely to be rabbits or deer?

 

Roe deer territorial marking whilst rubbing velvet off antlers, leave the tree as otherwise he will choose another

[spandit]

Roe deer territorial marking whilst rubbing velvet off antlers, leave the tree as otherwise he will choose another

 

They're tiny little trees, less than 1cm diameter, wouldn't the roe choose one of the bigger ones nearby? I'm thinking it might be rabbits now but I have a trailcam set up to hopefully catch one in the act

[Homegrown]

They're tiny little trees, less than 1cm diameter, wouldn't the roe choose one of the bigger ones nearby? I'm thinking it might be rabbits now but I have a trailcam set up to hopefully catch one in the act

 

No that's just the size and flexibility they like, the velvet under which the antlers form loses it's blood supply and they rub to relieve the irritation, as there are scent glands in the head it deposits a marker on the tree at the same time

[spandit]

Interesting. Anything I can look for to definitively prove the culprit? I have seen a roe deer in that area so definitely a suspect...

[sandspider]

Deer poo?!

[firewoodps]

hi all it could be hares

[Pinkfoot]

Deer poo?!

 

Or Munty. They do that too and are titchy

[spandit]

Hope it is muntjac... haven't had a chance to check the camera yet...

[Pinkfoot]

That's my bet.