Author Topic: What Critter Did this Damage ? (Read 9678 times)

UrbanTrapper · « **on:** February 11, 2016, 10:30:10 PM »

So this guy in Ballard, Seattle is getting strange damage to his trees, the biggest of which is a Rose of Sharon. Damage sounds like something a Mountain Beaver would do but a lot of it is about 12 feet off the ground. I went out and talked to him. I observed no tunneling like a Mountain Beaver would do. I did find some chewed off Laurel twigs in only one spot but no hole anywhere nearby. He says the damage occurs at night. I took photos of the damage and there is one spot where the top rail of his fence (about eight feet off the ground is also chewed).

The Gobble-stopper · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2016, 10:40:39 PM »

Looks like porcupine damage, unless you have seen a sidehill wampus cat in the neighborhood

ouchfoss · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2016, 11:24:26 PM »

Quote from: The Gobble-stopper on February 11, 2016, 10:40:39 PM

Looks like porcupine damage, unless you have seen a sidehill wampus cat in the neighborhood

I'm betting its a porky.

Humptulips · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2016, 11:33:58 PM »

Is not mountain beaver IMO. If it were a porky I would think it would be around. It would not come and go in the middle of the night.
Hard to tell much from the pictures but possibly squirrels. Yes squirrels sometimes eat bark.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2016, 05:18:11 AM »

I have seen porkys eat in some weird patterns but I would also bet that this is the work of a squirrel.

JakeLand · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2016, 05:38:25 AM »

Never seen a quill-pig in Ballard my only guess would be squirrel or Rats

wags · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2016, 06:56:06 AM »

Porcupines will eat all the way around a tree when it's in the vertical position, but on horizontal limbs like shown in the pictures I imagine they would just eat the top portion.
Have you looked closely at the size and width of the incisor teeth marks left on the tree?
Put a trail cam near three.

ghosthunter · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2016, 07:25:42 AM »

Squirrels or rats

jasnt · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2016, 07:54:47 AM »

I'm thinking porcupine as well. I've seen porkys that live near people retreat to a den durning the day.

JakeLand · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2016, 09:05:08 AM »

Ballard ehhhh not a porky

lokidog · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2016, 09:55:23 AM »

Quote from: JakeLand on February 12, 2016, 09:05:08 AM

Ballard ehhhh not a porky

I've seen a few dead porkys along I-5 through residential areas, and I don't drive it that much. It looks like porcupine to me as well, squirrels only chew when they are trying to get to something, they don't eat bark.

Da stump · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2016, 10:56:01 AM »

i would lay odds on rats in ballard

NRA4LIFE · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2016, 11:04:01 AM »

Time for a trail cam.

Humptulips · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2016, 11:35:07 AM »

Quote from: lokidog on February 12, 2016, 09:55:23 AM

Quote from: JakeLand on February 12, 2016, 09:05:08 AM
Ballard ehhhh not a porky

I've seen a few dead porkys along I-5 through residential areas, and I don't drive it that much. It looks like porcupine to me as well, squirrels only chew when they are trying to get to something, they don't eat bark.

You are mistaken on that account. Grays often peel bark in the winter. I've seen many fir trees with the top girdled from grays. It is usually a last resort but if they are hungry they will.
I have also seen red squirrels peel maple when the sap starts to come up.

Trapper John · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2016, 06:54:57 PM »

I've done a lot of work in Ballard over the years.
That my friend (if the work is done at night) is "Rats"
If it is done in the day, than it is "Squirrels"
I will say ................ Rats
JC.

UrbanTrapper · « **Reply #15 on:** February 13, 2016, 07:40:53 AM »

Thanks guys. That helps because I can rule out Mountain Beaver now. I did put two trail cams out. I'll see if I got any photos tomorrow.

ghosthunter · « **Reply #16 on:** February 13, 2016, 07:45:06 AM »

So I hope there is a trail camera photo in the future?

JakeLand · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2016, 05:01:25 AM »

Any pics ?

RadSav · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2016, 05:28:10 AM »

I've never known squirrels to be active at night. I would lean toward roof rats. Is there a thick hedge or arborvitae rows close by?

UrbanTrapper · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2016, 10:44:56 AM »

I think there is plenty of cover for rats and that (with help here) is what we currently suspect. I hope to have pics tomorrow.

UrbanTrapper · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2016, 07:54:15 PM »

Quote from: JakeLand on February 17, 2016, 05:01:25 AM

Any pics ?

I finally got some good pics and there has been a lot more damage to the Rose of Sharaon tree. It looks like it might be BOTH rats and squirrels. I advised the homeowners on how to poison rats properly, put sheet metal collars on the trunk to make a rodent barrier, and trim the tree so the rats can't get on his roof and chew their way in.

JakeLand · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2016, 07:57:38 PM »

The black cat brand rat traps work well you zip tie them on a branch it's hard to tell but it looks like a Eastern grey to me but make sure orrrr just set a couple small cages with peanut butter and catch away

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RadSav · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2016, 08:14:01 PM »

That squirrel likely isn't doing too much damage to the tree like that rat is, but it surely will be doing some damage to those Daffodils before too long. Hope the land owner doesn't have much invested in tulips. Those darn greys once took out 80 of my mothers tulips in one day. My father became the proud owner of a Benjamin pellet rifle the next day.

Thanks for posting the pics. My curiosity was running high waiting.

lokidog · « **Reply #23 on:** February 23, 2016, 08:45:31 PM »

Quote from: JakeLand on February 23, 2016, 07:57:38 PM

The black cat brand rat traps work well you zip tie them on a branch it's hard to tell but it looks like a Eastern grey to me but make sure orrrr just set a couple small cages with peanut butter and catch away

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No worries on taking out the squirrel, there are no Western Greys in Ballard.

JakeLand · « **Reply #24 on:** February 23, 2016, 08:47:38 PM »

I wouldn't think there would be maybe a Gamo pellet gun is a good ticket

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jasnt · « **Reply #25 on:** February 23, 2016, 09:28:09 PM »

Trapping squirrel would be fun. But a pellet gun with night vision would be the ticket

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