Help!!!
We were away from our Central Floriday home from mid-April
to mid-May. Yesterday, we returned to find that our lovely Laurel Oak
has been stripped in large patches (8 to 12 inch ovals) in about a dozen
spots -- from about 2 feet off the ground to 20 feet above.
There are chunks of bark on the ground, but beyond that, no other clues.
Can anyone help? Many thanks in advance.

Reply to post by David Parry, on May 14, 2001 at 17:53:37:

I don't know whether porcupines eat this species, nor whether you are in an area where these rodents are likely to live. However, you might consider that possibility. In my location the grey tree squirrels feed heavily on several tree species, stripping the bark to eat the cambium beneath. You might look closely for signs of teeth marks. Bear and deer can also leave damage to bark, though I cannot describe the appearance of that from my own experience. And humans are capable of all sorts of mischief that damages trees.