Interesting tree markings

The purpose of this forum is to help people identify things they've seen while out hiking: wildflowers, trees, birds, insects, small animals, animal tracks, even geographical features like buttes or streams
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lordgares
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Interesting tree markings

Post by lordgares » October 23rd, 2021, 8:31 pm

We have had some lively discussions in my house about what animal made this… any suggestions? Answers have ranged from bears to cougars to some seriously lost beavers.
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johnspeth
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Re: Interesting tree markings

Post by johnspeth » October 24th, 2021, 2:03 am

Woodpecker

Oregon Grinder
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Re: Interesting tree markings

Post by Oregon Grinder » October 24th, 2021, 9:02 am

Pretty sure it was a Pileated Woodpecker, reason for that guess is the bill size hole it started on the upper left side. They are the most aggressive wood wreckers on the wing! Thanks for sharing!

Webfoot
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Re: Interesting tree markings

Post by Webfoot » October 24th, 2021, 10:40 am

"Oregon Grinder" :lol:

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Waffle Stomper
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Re: Interesting tree markings

Post by Waffle Stomper » October 24th, 2021, 10:47 am

I lean towards pileated woodpecker, but the side by side chiseling is throwing me off. they usually run vertically. Porcupines also come to mind.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

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adamschneider
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Re: Interesting tree markings

Post by adamschneider » October 24th, 2021, 10:54 am

But would a woodpecker be doing its thing that close to the ground?

Porcupines definitely sound plausible.

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lordgares
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Re: Interesting tree markings

Post by lordgares » October 24th, 2021, 11:03 am

What confused me was the side by side gashes and that it wasn't very far off the ground.
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
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Aimless
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Re: Interesting tree markings

Post by Aimless » October 24th, 2021, 7:28 pm

porcupines do mangle tree bark, but it looks different than that when they do

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Waffle Stomper
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Re: Interesting tree markings

Post by Waffle Stomper » October 25th, 2021, 10:54 am

adamschneider wrote:
October 24th, 2021, 10:54 am
But would a woodpecker be doing its thing that close to the ground?
That makes me question woodpeckers, but I have seen them close to the ground and maybe incorrectly thought they worked their way down. The other thing is that the damage is not really very deep.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

Lurch
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Re: Interesting tree markings

Post by Lurch » October 28th, 2021, 8:47 am

I would lean towards the woodpecker too, and after looking at other images of their tree damage it doesn't seem that they have issues working that close to the ground.

Given the chunky nature I don't think it's the case here, but deer tree rubs can be vaguely similar

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