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What De-Barked This Tree?

  • 31-07-2020 4:55pm
    #1
    Thargor
    Registered Users Posts: 17,863 ✭✭✭✭


    Came across this tree today near me that I run past a lot and a big chunk of its bark has been stripped and is lying on the ground pulped, any clue what the cause was?

    wxOIxQp.jpg

    ZtmKtIL.jpg


Comments

  • #2
    Ulmus
    Registered Users Posts: 187 ✭✭Ulmus


    Grey squirrel. http://www.coford.ie/media/coford/content/publications/projectreports/cofordconnects/GreySquirrel.pdf
    I can't identify the tree. Willow?


  • #3
    Thargor
    Registered Users Posts: 17,863 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    Ah right never knew it was that dramatic when they did it, not sure of the tree but theres definitely a good few Greys up on Bray Head where I took this.


  • #4
    Zoo4m8
    Registered Users Posts: 1,003 ✭✭✭Zoo4m8


    Tree is dead/dying and is starting to disintegrate..


  • #5
    Thargor
    Registered Users Posts: 17,863 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    Its canopy looks okay, there are a couple of massive shelf fungi growing out of it though, biggest I ever saw.


  • #6
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,222 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    Ulmus wrote: »
    Grey squirrel. http://www.coford.ie/media/coford/content/publications/projectreports/cofordconnects/GreySquirrel.pdf
    I can't identify the tree. Willow?
    would a grey squirrel waste its time debarking clearly dead wood though?


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  • #7
    TopTec
    Registered Users Posts: 1,167 ✭✭✭TopTec


    I would say tree is on it's way out. Lot of ash leaves above but not an ash tree, posibly sycamore? You can see several rotten and broken limbs above which indicates a good age. The lower damage is not squirrel related but has been worked on by animals, possibly badgers for the insects.I have a couple of trees in the surrounding fields that have gone a similar way.

    TT


  • #8
    Melodeon
    Registered Users Posts: 2,247 ✭✭✭Melodeon


    I'll concur with most of the above, that tree is effectively dead, even if it still has a few green bits in the canopy.
    You're looking at a tree that's disintegrating and decomposing back into its constituent elements, all while providing a multitude of benefits to the fauna and flora that facilitate that process.
    In due course, a wind event will occur that overcomes the integrity of its degraded structure, and it will all come crashing to the ground.
    The next generation of woodland flora will explode by the tens of thousands into the vacant space, one of which will eventually become the single dominant specimen that replaces this tree.

    If this is somewhere accessible to the general public, or if there is valuable infrastructure within reach of the falling carcass, I'd suggest felling it sometime over the next few years in a controlled manner in a safe direction while it's still got some strength and structure, and leave it lie where it falls for nature to complete the work.
    Otherwise, leave it alone and don't go near it when it's windy! :-)


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