Is this squirrel damage?

[Plwm]

Hi there, I noticed some of the top branches of one of my trees were dead. When I went to have a look at the tree close up I found quite alot of bark stripped off as per the photos, and as you can see in one pic there are alot of strips of bark on the ground around the base.

 

Have squirrels done this and if so what are they after?

[Paul in the woods]

It looks like grey squirrel damage, yes. As to what they're after as far as I know no one knows for sure. Some say they're after the bark to eat whereas others suggest they strip bark as territory marking or simple boredom.

[Bob Rolfe]

Some of the lower stuff could be deer damage maybe .. Squirrel damage seems to me to be on smaller more tender branches

[7610]

I was just out looking at similar on a beech tonight. Definately squirrel I would say. The one I saw has deer fencing, so it wasn't a deer.

[drinksloe]

I was just out looking at similar on a beech tonight. Definately squirrel I would say. The one I saw has deer fencing, so it wasn't a deer.

 

Just because it is deer fenced does not automatically mean there will be no deer in it. Will vary from site to site

Seen some big deer crawl throu tiny spaces that u would not think was possible.

Once watched a moster sika stag with a craking set of antlers get under a deer fence throu a tiny hole and it was a big deer.

 

The lower ones could be deer or even sheep/hares/rabbits but if it looks the same as the higher stuff chances are it will be squirrels or it could even be 2 different animals

Deer tend to rip as only 1 set of teeth, whereas most other animals that strip bark will ahve clean cuts,

[matelot]

Apart from squirrel I cant think of any mammal that would "eat" bark more than circa 6 foot above ground level....

 

I understand the squirrels gnaw bark for food/ to wear teeth down/ boredom/ stress.