What did this? picture added

[Firedogg]

They sure do go up and down...


Do a google search "porcupine tree damage" and you will see pictures that look just like what the OP put up.

[The scout]

the main reason I would say it isn't porcupine is you can see the bark shredded going up and down, usually when a porcupine is done the edges are pretty clean or shredded on bottom and how would they do it that far off the ground?

[crowinghen]

I think we'll put a camera in the area maybe we'll see what did it.

[bearpaw]

the main reason I would say it isn't porcupine is you can see the bark shredded going up and down, usually when a porcupine is done the edges are pretty clean or shredded on bottom and how would they do it that far off the ground?

Porcupine climb, in fact I think they may spend more time in trees than on the ground, I see a lot of damage in the tops of trees.

I'm not positive what did the damage in the OP, but probably elk like Humptulips mentioned.

[Squidward]

Looks to me, more like a bear, and the sap wasn't ready to eat so he left the tree alone. If it was a bull, it looks like it would have hit the limbs on the side of the tree.

[trackemup]

No doubt that its an elk.  Probably a spike.  They like to use the tips of their antlers to rub just like that.  Firedog, the picture you posted is bear.  Don't always trust what you find on youtube.

[billythekidrock]

They sure do go up and down...


Do a google search "porcupine tree damage" and you will see pictures that look just like what the OP put up.

This is not porky damage. This is bear damage.

[billythekidrock]

trying to post picture a different way

I have seen pics like this where the elk were eating the bark but I am not sure if that is the case here or not. Certainly not bear or porky.

[Firedogg]

They sure do go up and down...


Do a google search "porcupine tree damage" and you will see pictures that look just like what the OP put up.

This is not porky damage. This is bear damage.

The picture I posted of the up and down damage is from a porcupine.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Barking by deer, elk or moose.  They scrape upward with their incisors to clear the outer bark, if the sap is running in the cambium they will scrape the inner bark down to sapwood and consume it.  Looks to me like the cambium didn't meet this one's standards.

[trackemup]

Firedog,

Sorry to correct you but that is not porcupine damage.  Classic bear.  They scrape up and down with their front teeth to scrape the cambium off.  Porcupine eat the bark.  I'm sure if you had a picture of the bottom of the tree there would be strips of bark on the ground.

[KILLA]

My money is on an elk. Look closely and I bet you find the hair in the sap.

[Kittman]

Nothing but a Bear did that.

[Old Man Yager]

Any hair on it? If an elk runs a tree that much there should be some hair on it somewhere

[crowinghen]

There was no hair in it .