PORCUPINE TREE DAMAGE ^ As homes are built in wild areas with strong populations of animals including porcupine, conflict between them and man is inevitable. Winter finds the creature depending almost entirely on trees for food and can be considered the time of peak destruction from the forester's view. The width of the marks you found is within the range possible for cougars (3.5 to 4.8 inches) or bear (3.75 to 5.5 inches). Post was not sent - check your email addresses! It raises these spines when it feels threatened, but they won’t do much damage to a human or large animal. Amazing Porcupine vs Lion - Lions Attack Porcupine | The Most Powerful Big Cat In the WorldWelcome to Channel ! Trees between 15 and 25 years — especially Douglas-fir, western hemlock and western red cedar — are  popular targets because of the sweet layer of the trunk that animals can find just under the bark. Forest Service Research Paper NE-136, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1969. They’re FREE — CLICK HERE to subscribe. Statute 33-3-106 • Black bears and mountain lions CAN NOT be destroyed when they are causing damage to personal property, including pets. Protect the tree from future damage with a small cage of 36-inch tall hardware cloth. The Washington Forestry Protection Association estimates that a single foraging black bear can peel bark from as many as 70 young trees a day. 4. We don’t see the animals very often – but if you get out into the forest often enough, you will see their damage frequently. Some bears may climb the tree and sit on branches to feed higher up. We are not alone with this issue as, across the state, reports of porcupine damage to trees have increased. While porcupine can damage healthy trees, the biggest source tree damage in Washington State, especially in young trees, comes from black bears. Porcupines love salt and will be inclined to enter the trap as … Stripped bark exposes trees to disease, and those affected often die. EAR TO THE GROUND WITH DNR & COMMISSIONER FRANZ, Washington Forestry Protection Association estimates, Tips to enjoy winter recreation on DNR-managed lands, Be aware of weather conditions, choose when to ride. Remember, if the snow gets above the treatment, they’ll have access. Even with prompt care you should expect to see some die back in the tree’s canopy. If you see bark striped from a tree, strips hanging from limbs, and perhaps piles of the stripped bark at the base of the tree, you might have seen the work of a hungry porcupine. Beaver Tree Damage. Wintertime is usually when the worst tree damage occurs because smaller vegetation is scarce. Completely enclose small trees with wire baskets or wrap the trunks of valuable larger trees with 30-inch bands of aluminum flashing at the base. Raccoons can destroy crops, tear up sections of the roof and vents, and spread disease. Sign-up for DNR enewsletters. We don’t see the animals very often – but if you get out into the forest often enough, you will see their damage frequently. This tree bears many scars of repeated use by bears. The tree-gathered menu is supplemented with ground vegetation. Porcupines have been known to strip or “girdle” tree bark from both the trunk and upper limbs with their two front teeth, which can sometimes kill the tree. Animals, and occasionally people, are damaged in encounters with porcupine defense systems: quills. CAN I SHOOT A BLACK BEAR OR MOUNTAIN LION IF IT IS ATTACKING MY DOG OR MY LIVESTOCK? Significant gnawing on a larger tree may be repaired over time. Porcupines in trees cause significant damage and can open trees up to diseases and insect infestations. If you see bark striped from a tree, strips hanging from limbs, and perhaps piles of the stripped bark at the base of the tree, you might have seen the work of a hungry porcupine. Trees between 15 and 25 years — especially Douglas-fir, western hemlock and … Porcupines are also the only North American mammal that has a special antibiotic coating on a layer of its skin. It may be better to sacrifice the tapped and already damaged tree in favor of the loss of another tree due to future tapping damage. While porcupine can damage healthy trees, the biggest source tree damage in Washington State, especially in young trees, comes from black bears. The major difference between Old and New world species is that the Old World porcupines live on the ground and often in small groups, while the New World porcupine… Beavers eat mostly tree bark and leaves. • Black bears and mountain lions CAN be killed when it is NECESSARY to prevent them from inflicting death, damage Porcupines cannot “shoot” their quills, but the quills come out quite easily on contact. The damage reported starts at the top of the tree with the bark being stripped off of the upper branches and progresses to the trunk. You should also consider the species of tree being debarked: squirrels prefer maples while porcupines will feed on oak, pine, maple, and even spruce, as well as other species. Bears would leave vertical scratch marks, and porcupines eat the outer bark as well, and the height rules out deer so that really leaves just the squirrels. It’s particularly easy to strip the bark from conifer trees in the spring when the bark is relatively lose and pliable. The damaged trees can die but in doing so also become home to the many species of wildlife that take shelter and build nests in diseased or hollow trees. This antibiotic layer prevents possible infection at the event where the porcupine falls from a tree and gets pierced by his own quills as it hits the ground. Rushmore, Francis M. Porcupines’ back, sides, and tail are covered with thousands of stiff, needle-like, finely barbed hairs (quills) for defense. Porcupines in trees … Sign-up for DNR enewsletters. They eat a variety of plants, including the bark and foliage of conifer trees. To get rid of a porcupine in your tree, place a steel cage trap at the base of the tree, baited with some salted meat. All this sign is a way of communicating with other bears. While porcupine can damage healthy trees, the biggest source tree damage in Washington State, especially in young trees, comes from black bears. The Washington Forestry Protection Association estimates that a single foraging black bear can peel bark from as many as 70 young trees a day. Porcupine are present in both eastern and western Washington. If the damage encompasses more than 50% of the tree’s diameter, there is still a slight chance that the tree could survive but this will require a process called bridge grafting. They chew on hand tools, decks, and other wood objects while seeking salt. Treat the trunk of the tree above the snow line and you should be able to stop them. All have short, stocky legs, but their tails range from short to long, with some being prehensile. As a last resort and you feel you are in a situation, Capsaicin spray (commonly called pepper spray) has proven extremely effective. Wildlife in Germany. A gray squirrel’s incisors leave marks between 1.3 to 1.7 mm wide, while a porcupine’s teeth marks are nearly triple that, from 3.6 to 4.8 mm wide. Porcupines expose tree roots, girdle tree trunks, and clip branches off trees with their chewing. Bears have been known to strip entire trees. Older damage is seen below the fresh marks where the bark is darker. A porcupine’s two large front teeth will continue to … Damage. The porcupine is a rodent widespread in southern Europe and Africa. Source . A single animal can quickly expose the root system on a tree, leaving it open to insects or disease. Rodents make up about 40% of all the mammal species on Earth. It could be bear or beaver damage, but what if the removed bark area goes up to nearly the top of the tree, higher than a bear or beaver would go in search of tasty bark or bugs? A Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, fed on this tree's bark in Rosy Mound Natural Area, near Grand Haven, Michigan, USA From the animal kingdom: the porcupine thorn. Porcupine, any of 25 species of large, herbivorous, quill-bearing rodents active from early evening to dawn. It blinds the animal without causing any damage. A porcupine can strip a bark off a tree and kill it. Porcupines use quills that cover their backs and tails to protect themselves, and these quills are mixed in with their regular hair. Prevent raccoons from tree climbing to avoid further property damage. Have you seen trees with large areas of their trunks stripped of bark? For example, porcupine damage can suppress some tree growth in the forest, which may open up the forest canopy and permit sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor. They tend to like fairly thin bark and like to sit on a branch or in a crotch where they can feed leisurely. Electric fences are effective when the smooth electric wire is placed 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) above an 18-inch-high (46-cm) poultry wire. Porcupines occasionally will cause considerable losses by damaging fruits, sweet corn, alfalfa, and small grains. These animals have strong claws and will climb poles and trees to gain access to the roof of a house, bird feeders and other structures up high. It could be bear or beaver damage, but what if the removed bark area goes up to nearly the top of the tree, higher than a bear or beaver would go in search of tasty bark or bugs? The Washington Forestry Protection Association estimates that a single foraging black bear can peel bark from as many as 70 young trees a day. It’s particularly easy to strip the bark from conifer trees in the spring when the bark is relatively lose and pliable. A 4- to 6-inch (10-to 15-cm) electric fence can be enhanced by painting molasses on the wire. Beaver harvest trees in riparian areas. I’ve puzzled over the pictures you sent me of marks on a tree, as well as the details about measurements and known wildlife in your area. The North American porcupine is found in New England, the upper Midwest and western United States and most of Canada. Porcupine are present in both eastern and western Washington. If you are finding damage on your property, you will need to act. They cause wounds and serious injury to the tree if they girdle the tree by removing the bark all the way around the circumference of the trunk. "Sapsucker." Porcupines do also pose a serious threat for pets, especially dogs. Grafting is not rocket science but does require some skill and knowledge. It’s true that fox squirrels and gray squirrels strip also bark from trees, and so does the raccoon, but don’t forget about another forest dweller: the porcupine. Porcupine sign: a) tracks showing drag marks of tail; b) toothmarks on tree limbs. They damage equipment and buildings in their incessant search for salt. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. A porcupine has quills. Landscape damage caused by these animals can cost thousands of dollars to repair. In cooler weather, a porcupine feeds on conifer needles and gnaws on bark, which can cause conflict when it chooses to dine on a property owner's favorite oak. Treat above where you think it will accumulate (at least 3-5 feet up above the snow line) to insure you have enough protection. Porcupine commonly climb up trees and strip the bark. Fencing small tree plantings, orchards, and gardens is effective in reducing porcupine damage. Damage within a stand can be extensive. An old pine tree showing bite and claw marks left by a black bear. A hedgehog has 5,000-7,000 spines, similar to the spines on a sea urchin. Never feed or try to pet bears. All of these things have the potential to kill a tree because they expose the tree to insects, birds, disease and decay. They cause wounds and serious injury to the tree if they girdle the tree by removing the bark all the way around the circumference of the trunk. And you can especially suspect porcupine if there are convenient branch “seats” for the animal to be perched on as it strips the bark, and eats some of the bark and licks and chews at the sugary wood surface beneath. The quills, or spines, take various forms depending on the species, but all are modified 9.) The Washington Forestry Protection Association estimates that a single foraging black bear can peel bark from as many as 70 young trees a day. The damaged trees can die but in doing so also become home to the many species of wildlife that take shelter and build nests in diseased or hollow trees. This is particularly troublesome because porcupines prefer trees with smooth bark—as most decorative trees and shrubs have. These bristles help the porcupine to adhere itself on a tree trunk. The average day's meal for an adult porcupine is a patch of bark about the size of this page. Beaver bitten and felled tree. They will regularly cut down trees. To a porcupine, your rose garden, berry patch, or vegetable garden, is simply irresistible. North American Porcupine climbing a dead tree with yellow Birch leaves and evergreens in Autumn Erethizon Dorsatum Minnesota USA. And you can especially suspect porcupine if there are convenient branch “seats” for the animal to be perched on as it strips the bark, and eats some of the bark and licks and chews at the sugary wood surface beneath. During the winter, they chew through the outer tree bark to eat the tissue-like inner bark. Close-up of a beaver bitten tree. This can stimulate herbaceous understory vegetation which benefits different species than those that prefer a closed-canopy forest. They tend to like fairly thin bark and like to sit on a branch or in a crotch where they can feed leisurely. Porcupines are creatures of … Most bears immediately turn and run, then stop to rub their eyes. It’s true that fox squirrels and gray squirrels strip also bark from trees, and so do raccoons, but don’t forget about another forest dweller: the porcupine. While porcupine can damage healthy trees, the biggest source tree damage in Washington State, especially in young trees, comes from black bears. A. Porcupines occasionally will cause considerable economic loss as they eat forest plantings, orchards and implements. Maple Sap and Syrup Production. They will. Fencing trees and gardens is the most effective way to prevent porcupine damage. Trees between 15 and 25 years — especially Douglas-fir, western hemlock and western red cedar — are  popular targets because of the sweet layer of the trunk that animals can find just under the bark. I also consulted with an expert woodswoman. Capulin, New Mexico - Porcupine damage to a tree in Capulin Volcano National Monument. A beaver can chew down a small ann big tree. Have you seen trees with large areas of their trunks stripped of bark? This necessity of nature has led to the porcupine being disliked for the damage it can cause to trees near homes or businesses. Multiple trees or an entire area can be enclosed in a single fence. They’re FREE — CLICK HERE to subscribe, EAR TO THE GROUND WITH DNR & COMMISSIONER FRANZ, Washington Forestry Protection Association estimates, Seasonal closures begin in the fall for many DNR-managed lands—know before you go, Grants available for fire protection districts and departments through DNR-administered program. Trees that have been girdled by chewing will die, often ruining thousands of dollars’ worth of landscaping. Porcupine commonly climb up trees and strip the bark. What damage can porcupines cause? They eat a variety of plants, including the bark and foliage of conifer trees. There are products you can apply to damaged trees that seal the outer bark to prevent further damage and infection. Q. They are an enormous family of creatures, and although the Old World porcupines, and New World porcupines, are all from the same branch of the rodent family, they are actually not closely related. Q. Of its 30,000 quills, between 700-800 are barbed (ouch). 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