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Haggis Hunter Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2487 Location: The building site formally known as Edinburgh!
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:20 pm Post subject: Bark Stripping |
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I walked along the old railway line from Penicuik to Bonnyrigg today and came across a small section with all the bark taken off of lots of trees and low branches. I had thought perhaps it was an otter but I wasn't close to any water course.
So does anyone know what animal can do this much damage to trees?
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Lodainn An Ear Member
Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 93
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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deer? |
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Drumin Member
Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Moray
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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Rabbits - unless there has been a flock of sheep loose, unlikely but not impossible to be deer at that intensity and so low down on the stem. Did the area have a frozen snow cover up until recently? Seen this happen often when no other grazing is about. |
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Original A1 Member
Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 81 Location: Auld Reekie
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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Yup, that's what I guessed too, although one of the smaller breeds as it's low for a red - perhaps roe? I think the bark's too smooth for a badger (would expect claw marks).
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Haggis Hunter Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2487 Location: The building site formally known as Edinburgh!
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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We've had pretty bad snow here recently and some stretches of the path still had bits of sheet ice on it so it could have been deer?
Edit to add that I don't think it could have been rabbits as some of the parts are a 2 to 3 feet high. _________________ Let me know if I say anything that offends you
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Drumin Member
Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Moray
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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It may sound silly but remember the rabbits would be on top of any snow cover giving extra height and would continue stripping as the snow melted, also a buck rabbit on its hind legs can get up quite high, especially if it is hungry!
Rabbit is still my guess but I cannot totally rule out deer or sheep, it might be possible for someone more knowledgeable to look at the teeth marks in the first photo for more of a clue. Similarly there might be more clues around the trees, tracks, fur, hair etc which could confirm. |
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cooltshirt Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Posts: 71 Location: Auld Reekie
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Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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I'm certain that this is deer ............ I saw this appear during the cold spell when other food would have been hard to find.
It'll be both roe and red deer, the larger animals simply bending down.
This can be seen along the A702 near Biggar where the damage goes higher than in the pics shown. The deer would have been pretty hungry .......... bad news for the trees where the grazing goes all the way round _________________ a cynic is what an idealist would call a realist
http://savethegaywhale.com/ |
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Drumin Member
Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Moray
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Haggis Hunter Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2487 Location: The building site formally known as Edinburgh!
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:44 am Post subject: |
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After looking at this and having taken a close look at the marks yesterday, it would appear as though Drumin is correct and that it may have been rabbits. The marks certainly were not the same as those shown in the link for deer. Some of the branches that had been stripped weren't much thicker than pencils, I think deer would have broken these? _________________ Let me know if I say anything that offends you
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Drumin Member
Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Moray
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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cooltshirt Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Posts: 71 Location: Auld Reekie
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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Further research has shown that the teeth marks are actually from the lowland Haggis (chapmanus bilious)........... putting paid to the stories that their bark is worse than their bite. This behaviour used to be confined to Selkirk, but it appears that they have fallen from grace and have had to broaden their horizons.
All in all a missed opportunity for a Haggis Hunter
_________________ a cynic is what an idealist would call a realist
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Drumin Member
Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Moray
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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Haggis Hunter Founder member
Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 2487 Location: The building site formally known as Edinburgh!
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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Tooey Member
Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 129 Location: Strathspey
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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Yup, I concur with Drumin, we have massive Rabbit damage all through Badenoch and Strathspey. What's more, because of the height of snow they managed to get into our garden over the fence line and stripped the bark off our Apple trees. Now the snow is only at four inches or so, the Rabbits can now be seen to leap over the fence, and if you show them a gun they leap back out again. _________________ Tooey
Adventures Unlimited |
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