# What would have caused this tree damage **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 22, 2022, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-caused-this-tree-damage/959898 "2022-02-22T00:23:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-caused-this-tree-damage/959898/1 "2022-02-22T00:23:27Z")
As you can see from the photos, it was like this around the whole tree up to about 4’. You can also see the surrounding rosemary doesn’t seem to be disturbed so probably not human. [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/08657a01-5817-4f27-89f7-320d28cba28c_l.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/08657a01-5817-4f27-89f7-320d28cba28c_l.jpg) [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/f5251f10-2c46-4c12-a499-8e045895c3e0_l.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/f5251f10-2c46-4c12-a499-8e045895c3e0_l.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-caused-this-tree-damage/959898/2 "2022-02-22T00:30:48Z")
Looks like an animal of some sort chewed or clawed the bark off. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-caused-this-tree-damage/959898/3 "2022-02-22T00:45:29Z")
Some animals will rub themselves on tree bark. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-caused-this-tree-damage/959898/4 "2022-02-22T01:06:16Z")
around here, that would probably be a porcupine. ---
**Author:** ![KMS94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ad7895/32.png) [@KMS94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KMS94)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-caused-this-tree-damage/959898/5 "2022-02-22T01:13:54Z")
Another vote for porcupine. My father in law has been battling them for years for eating his trees. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-caused-this-tree-damage/959898/6 "2022-02-22T02:20:43Z")
What’s the location and tree species? Bears can strip bark like this: [https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/programs/nwrc/SA\_Animals/CT\_Bear](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/programs/nwrc/SA_Animals/CT_Bear) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-caused-this-tree-damage/959898/7 "2022-02-22T04:10:27Z")
It’s here: **N 34° 55.895 W 120° 26.650** I believe it’s a mimosa tree. In town - I’d be pretty surprised if it’s a porcupine but not impossible I guess. I hike a lot in park and wild areas and I’ve never seen this. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-caused-this-tree-damage/959898/8 "2022-02-22T04:23:05Z")
[https://images.app.goo.gl/tSBrkUVE5uf4yWyX7](https://images.app.goo.gl/tSBrkUVE5uf4yWyX7) Maybe a porcupine after all.