Tips of Pine trees branches falling down

Each year at this time of year something is causing damage to a couple of my Pine trees (not all), resulting in tips of the branches falling down. I wonder if anybody could enlighten me what's going on?

 

Probably squirrels.

 

Thanks Michael. It is what I have been thinking too, but wanted opinion from others. Still, don't have any clue what they may be doing this for?

 

Maybe vitamins in the sap that's rising at this time of year?

 

As with other rodents cut ends of plant parts they have taken will appear snipped, as though by shears. They use their big front teeth against one another, like two blades.

 

As soon as I can get there I will inspect the tips if there is a clean, sharp cut, if it is what you mean Ron. Right now I still have about 60 cm of snow here (the picture is from last year) but I can see from my window new cuttings already under the tree.

 

I wonder if nature's pruning has some benefit for the tree. Denser/sturdier branches? More cones?

 

Impossible to say with this amount of pruning.

 

Is it always the same trees that are pruned? So there's no noticeable difference between these and those that weren't?

 

No, I can't see any difference.