Claw marks on tree

[The Woodman]

Why are they "obviously claw marks", Livvy?

Do Badgers leave horizontal claw marks as in SAM_00191 that cut through the bark and into the timber of the sycamore?

Cuts which appear to have been struck with an upward motion?

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by bigdave60dog

Badger and grey squirrel are ridiculous answers. I suppose that many wabbers never get out in the real world much.
If no deer. you don`t have many options left.

I'm quite happy for others to judge my suggestions as they see fit, what interests me in these type of questions is the way that 'framing' comes to describe what is acceptable as an answer. In this case the question was 'framed' in terms of "what made these claw marks ?" as opposed to (for example) "how was the damage to this tree caused ?"

In this particular case, it's clear that there were at least two 'damage' events, something which has been confirmed by the report of progressive damage occuring overnight. The 'scratches' (the putative claw marks), which appear made by a single point of abrasive contact moved disjointedly and randomly, show signs of 'drying' along the exposed bark margins. There's no obvious connecting pattern to suggest that these scratches are in anway the result of a 'claw', a variety of other causes of the scratch damage can be invoked.

In contrast, the area stripping, where the bark is taken fully back to the phloem/cambium is typical of grey squirrel damage, with the exception that the deeper tooth grooves that are usually evident in the cambium are not present. However 'nibbling' does look like it has taken place along the exposed bark margin - my suggestion remains that the initial damage is of likely human cause and that this prexisting damage is being progressively exploited by grey squirrels - something which is very probable given the tree type, location and time of year.

CM

[bigdave60dog]

you want to know what I really think? It`s been done with a strimmer.
Dave

[Burko]

I have several photos of badger claw marks on tree stumps, in this case it most certainly is not badger.

More than likely human, accidental or not, given the context of where the trees are situated - a caravan park.

[snake]

It is a mystery.
The area that my friend lives in is a small plot consisting of only 4 small bungalows. It is enclosed mostly by closeboard fencing and one side is fenced with 6 foot high chainlink.
The road frontage has a large private hedge with a rd through the centre to allow access. There are communal garden to the rear and parking spaces.
The bungalows are occupied by mostly elderly people so no children live or play on the site.
There are no squirrels in the area, the damaged tree is on the back fence with very little vegitation around so no reason to use a strimmer around the tree.
It is a total mystery to all that live on the site.

I reckon its a new breed of mice the size of Alsations.

[bigdave60dog]

When I first saw it I would have been sure that it was deer marking which I am very familiar with. Then I "missed" when strimming round a sycamore tree. The result was similar to your photo. The "Scratches" are where the cord is not to close to the tree -kinda glancing-, bark is stripped when the cord is held close. This also gives the uneven edge to the lesion. Can`t think why I did not ask before. Was there any bark left on the ground?
Does your friend think that it was done by an animal of a human?
If it is not a strimmer the you will have to put it in the "cold case" box.
I have big list of those.
Dave

[STYRBJORN]

Radioactive mutant man-eating fox-badger. With a switchblade.