Tree bark stripping

[d6i9p]

I noticed the other day that one of the trees (Beech i think) in a local wood had been more or less completely stripped of its bark from the base to the tip, a good 35ft, there were no signs of claw or teeth marks and the bark was lying in a big pile at the base. Since then a few more trees are showing the same kind of damage, though not as bad.
Does anyone know what's causing it and will the trees die?

[Dorts]

Squirrels! They do this at this time of year to many trees, particularly Sycamores. It is thought that as their teeth grow faster now than at any other time of year, and without nuts to keep them filed down, the take to stripping bark.
Not good for the trees I'm afraid.
Dorts.

[The Woodman]

The Beech has basically had it due to the damage. It may shoot from the base below the damage but will never make a sound tree. The dead wood may attract infection and wood dwelling invertebrates.

Stripped Sycamore in hedgerows is noticeable at this time of year due to the dying tops with dead leaves above the ring barking by the grey menace.

This is how Lovejoy deals with the problem YouTube - ‪ALABAMA SLINGSHOT SQUIRREL HUNT‬‏

What a community spirited bunch of folks.

There is a thread about catapult elastic.

[bigdave60dog]

These are not slingshots,, they are catapults.
Slingshots are long and you swing them before releasing the projectile. They are much more powerful the catapults -the world record for a slingshot throw is 470 metres- but they require much more skill to use effectively.
Dave

[The Woodman]

I think that'll be down to to US terminology, Dave. Without wishing to hijack this thread I've never mastered the art of slingshot.