This is War!!!

[Jetson1950]

I’ve seen others post on this problem and it finally hit me. Time to break out the high powered pellet rifle. First thing is to figure out who/what the culprit is. First thought is rabbits. I’ve seen them scurrying around in the mornings. There are no squirrels in my area. Other choices are Armadillos, swap rats and possibly Nutria.

My young Bald Cypress when I repotted it in September and this morning. Also lost about 15 little seedling of different trees. Some with nothing left but a nub sticking out of the ground. Need to find me some good night vision goggles.

 

[DeepSouth]

This is odd. I am not aware of any native animal that will feed on bald cypress - it is sappy and contains lots of materials that would be considered toxic to most animals.

Squirrels have been troublesome in my garden, but they typically just dig at the roots (burying or retrieving acorns) and rarely they will chew on trunks to sharpen their teeth. Armadillos would not do this and swamp rats are also unlikely.

Nutria are the most likely culprit, in my opinion, if you have them in the area? They can eat essentially anything and are known to destroy cypress. That being said, you would have to be very close to a body of water that they are nesting in because they don't tend to tread far from their nests.

The other option is nesting birds - but this seems pretty extreme for that. I have had a few saplings pulled by birds for nest building.

 

[Jetson1950]

This is odd. I am not aware of any native animal that will feed on bald cypress - it is sappy and contains lots of materials that would be considered toxic to most animals.

Squirrels have been troublesome in my garden, but they typically just dig at the roots (burying or retrieving acorns) and rarely they will chew on trunks to sharpen their teeth. Armadillos would not do this and swamp rats are also unlikely.

Nutria are the most likely culprit, in my opinion, if you have them in the area? They can eat essentially anything and are known to destroy cypress. That being said, you would have to be very close to a body of water that they are nesting in because they don't tend to tread far from their nests.

The other option is nesting birds - but this seems pretty extreme for that. I have had a few saplings pulled by birds for nest building.

I have had some damage before, but that was tiny seedlings. Whatever did this chewed through a 1/4” part of the trunk that was 16-18” above the ground. It was also big enough to push the bamboo stitch I had supporting the BC away from where it was. Our larger varmints are raccoons, coyotes, a few big cats, gators all the way up to black bears. Maybe raccoons, but none of the others make since. On the Nutia, closest pond is maybe 200 yards away.

 

[Jetson1950]

This is odd. I am not aware of any native animal that will feed on bald cypress - it is sappy and contains lots of materials that would be considered toxic to most animals.

Squirrels have been troublesome in my garden, but they typically just dig at the roots (burying or retrieving acorns) and rarely they will chew on trunks to sharpen their teeth. Armadillos would not do this and swamp rats are also unlikely.

Nutria are the most likely culprit, in my opinion, if you have them in the area? They can eat essentially anything and are known to destroy cypress. That being said, you would have to be very close to a body of water that they are nesting in because they don't tend to tread far from their nests.

The other option is nesting birds - but this seems pretty extreme for that. I have had a few saplings pulled by birds for nest building.

Guess I can’t rule out the possibility of beavers or deer. They are in this area.

 

[Russ1]

Looks like something Squirrels would do and using for nest.
They are cutting lots of branches on a beach tree in my yard and they look cut like that.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Ugh! We have rabbits, but Florida has a whole slew of varmints!

Might want to get a wireless WiFi wildlife camera, if you do not have a security setup. The link shows a good one that is cheap while the sale lasts. 48 bucks…


We are wintering over bonsai in chicken wire enclosures this year. Dang rabbits bit through the plastic netting!

Best
DSD sends

 

[Jetson1950]

Looks like something Squirrels would do and using for nest.
They are cutting lots of branches on a beach tree in my yard and they look cut like that.

I live in a fairly new part of the Villages and there are no oak trees anywhere near me. Haven’t ever seen a squirrel in my area.

Ugh! We have rabbits, but Florida has a whole slew of varmints!

Might want to get a wireless WiFi wildlife camera, if you do not have a security setup. The link shows a good one that is cheap while the sale lasts. 48 bucks…


We are wintering over bonsai in chicken wire enclosures this year. Dang rabbits bit through the plastic netting!

Best
DSD sends

Great idea on the motion detector camera. I’ll get one. There are deed restrictions in the Villages for no fences (even small rabbit wire ones). Impossible for approval.

 

[Wulfskaar]

First priorty: Take your finger off the trigger. Know your enemy first. Set up a recon "ambush". I like @Deep Sea Diver's camera idea. I have Blink cameras, but the whole system is like $350+. All you need is one wifi camera that will send you an alert when it detects motion, like the one in DSD's link.

Once the target is identified, then you can formulate a defensive plan, and if necessary, an offensive one.

If you do get a camera, I'd love to see what kind of visitors you get. I was shocked seeing how many different types of animals visit my yard.

 

[rockm]

The primary issue with damage from wildlife is you have the pots on the ground. Get them up off the ground at least two feet (shelving etc) that gets them out of rabbits gophers reach. If it’s squirrels elevation can help a bit but squirrels are adaptable

 

[Jetson1950]

The primary issue with damage from wildlife is you have the pots on the ground. Get them up off the ground at least two feet (shelving etc) that gets them out of rabbits gophers reach. If it’s squirrels elevation can help a bit but squirrels are adaptable

The ones that got hit are the ones on the ground in a sunny area. It’s my overflow area. Those on my porch area are never bothered. I agree with elevating them, but we don’t have calm thunderstorms that move through here. That, plus the fact that the closeness of the homes creates a Venturi effect between them that blows everything around if it’s above the ground very far. Once I figure out what’s doing it, I’ll try to find a pest repellent specific to that animal. Otherwise, it’s night goggles and pellet rifle. Rifle has a silencer on it, so it won’t scare the neighbors. Funny, the last place I lived I was shooting squirrels constantly because they would chew up the sprinkler sprayer heads, but the neighbors would tell me I’m not shooting enough of them.

 

[Dav4]

My vote is a Michigan snow bird deer flew down south last week and is homesick, so decided to munch on your Dawn RW.... deer will absolutely maul a small DR like that up here if given the opportunity... and I have about 15 tomato plants over in my fenced garden with similar angled stem cuts to the trunk chop your DR now ... the fence obviously failed me and the tomatoes

 

[Burl]

I was getting all excited for Soil War II but then I read the post. Hope you find a solution.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

I have had some damage before, but that was tiny seedlings. Whatever did this chewed through a 1/4” part of the trunk that was 16-18” above the ground. It was also big enough to push the bamboo stitch I had supporting the BC away from where it was. Our larger varmints are raccoons, coyotes, a few big cats, gators all the way up to black bears. Maybe raccoons, but none of the others make since. On the Nutia, closest pond is maybe 200 yards away.

Beaver will eat/chop Bald Cypress I know that from following CajunRider on this site. Google says a lot of water fowl (ducks etc) will eat BC. That top cut looks like sharp teeth made it.

My vote is a Michigan snow bird deer flew down south last week and is homesick, so decided to munch on your Dawn RW.... deer will absolutely maul a small DR like that up here if given the opportunity... and I have about 15 tomato plants over in my fenced garden with similar angled stem cuts to the trunk chop your DR now ... the fence obviously failed me and the tomatoes

It's a BC not a DR. MI reading comprehension for the win.

 

[Dav4]

Beaver will eat/chop Bald Cypress I know that from following CajunRider on this site. Google says a lot of water fowl (ducks etc) will eat BC. That top cut looks like sharp teeth made it.


It's a BC not a DR. MI reading comprehension for the win.

I am NOT a product of MI public schools!!! (I wouldn't be able to turn on my computer if I was )

... and deer don't give a if it's a BC or a DR... it's all salad to them!!!

(Fwiw, the puppy is slowly killing me via sleep deprivation )

 

[Jetson1950]

Ordered the wildlife camera. Should be able to identify the culprit. I’ve got a lot more little trees it may come after. Will start moving the better ones up on the porch where they should be safe.