Anyone recognize this type of wound? It's a Pinus bungeana trunk at about 5 feet from the ground. It appears to me to be a mechanical injury but it is not close to any paths or driveways and no branches seem to be bruised or snapped.
Two top holes do actually look like points where branched were pulled out. What animals do you have coming there?
Feral cats are the bane of West Cape May. There are no deer. We do have loads of birds of many kinds, squirrels, coyote, and many neighbors have very large dogs. Maybe a neighbor ripped branches for holiday decorations?
Squirrel or Porcupine would be my guess. Doesn't look like pulled branches to me, there's no sign of any branch collar thickening, nor are the holes at the same nodal position as other branches. So your neighbour is innocent ;-)
Squirrels are extremely destructive critters so I guess it does make sense. Thanks everyone for taking a look.
I have seen pine trees whose branches have been snapped clear at their base, under heavy snow fall conditions.... the results were the same.
Bungeana branches are very brittle but no snow in West Cape May so far this year. Appreciate your suggestion.
