What is stripping the bark off my tree branches ?
Bark stripping is a common practice among many species of tree squirrels. Squirrels don’t actually eat the bark; they strip away the top layer to get to the sweet, phloem tissue underneath. Bark stripping occurs most frequently in early summer. It can kill trees outright or make them susceptible to insect infestation or fungal pathogens. Squirrels prefer to strip bark from small trees (less than 2.4 inches). Even if trees aren’t killed outright, bark stripping can stunt a tree’s growth or lead to malformation of the wood. ( Source: R. W. Thorington, Jr., and K. Ferrell. 2006. Squirrels: the animal answer guide. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 183 pp. ) Also see FNR 203, Why Do animals Eat the Bark and Wood of Trees and Shrubs.
