Porcupine are present in both eastern and western Washington. Porcupine sign: a) tracks showing drag marks of tail; b) toothmarks on tree limbs. Bears would leave vertical scratch marks, and porcupines eat the outer bark as well, and the height rules out deer so that really leaves just the squirrels. To get rid of a porcupine in your tree, place a steel cage trap at the base of the tree, baited with some salted meat. Porcupines cannot “shoot” their quills, but the quills come out quite easily on contact. 9.) They tend to like fairly thin bark and like to sit on a branch or in a crotch where they can feed leisurely. This tree bears many scars of repeated use by bears. Treat above where you think it will accumulate (at least 3-5 feet up above the snow line) to insure you have enough protection. This is particularly troublesome because porcupines prefer trees with smooth bark—as most decorative trees and shrubs have. They will regularly cut down trees. A porcupine can strip a bark off a tree and kill it. This antibiotic layer prevents possible infection at the event where the porcupine falls from a tree and gets pierced by his own quills as it hits the ground. Bears are much harder to chase after they have begun eating. While porcupine can damage healthy trees, the biggest source tree damage in Washington State, especially in young trees, comes from black bears. Porcupines expose tree roots, girdle tree trunks, and clip branches off trees with their chewing. Q. The damaged trees can die but in doing so also become home to the many species of wildlife that take shelter and build nests in diseased or hollow trees. Damage. They cause wounds and serious injury to the tree if they girdle the tree by removing the bark all the way around the circumference of the trunk. CAN I SHOOT A BLACK BEAR OR MOUNTAIN LION IF IT IS ATTACKING MY DOG OR MY LIVESTOCK? Of its 30,000 quills, between 700-800 are barbed (ouch). We don’t see the animals very often – but if you get out into the forest often enough, you will see their damage frequently. While porcupine can damage healthy trees, the biggest source tree damage in Washington State, especially in young trees, comes from black bears. These animals have strong claws and will climb poles and trees to gain access to the roof of a house, bird feeders and other structures up high. Have you seen trees with large areas of their trunks stripped of bark? Trees between 15 and 25 years — especially Douglas-fir, western hemlock and western red cedar — are  popular targets because of the sweet layer of the trunk that animals can find just under the bark. They chew on hand tools, decks, and other wood objects while seeking salt. Fencing small tree plantings, orchards, and gardens is effective in reducing porcupine damage. Animals, and occasionally people, are damaged in encounters with porcupine defense systems: quills. The Washington Forestry Protection Association estimates that a single foraging black bear can peel bark from as many as 70 young trees a day. Sign-up for DNR enewsletters. Beaver harvest trees in riparian areas. A Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, fed on this tree's bark in Rosy Mound Natural Area, near Grand Haven, Michigan, USA From the animal kingdom: the porcupine thorn. The quills, or spines, take various forms depending on the species, but all are modified Multiple trees or an entire area can be enclosed in a single fence. A single animal can quickly expose the root system on a tree, leaving it open to insects or disease. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! A single bear can strip bark from as many as 70 trees per day. They eat a variety of plants, including the bark and foliage of conifer trees. Trees between 15 and 25 years — especially Douglas-fir, western hemlock and … Porcupines in trees … Close-up of a beaver bitten tree. Porcupine are present in both eastern and western Washington. There are products you can apply to damaged trees that seal the outer bark to prevent further damage and infection. It could be bear or beaver damage, but what if the removed bark area goes up to nearly the top of the tree, higher than a bear or beaver would go in search of tasty bark or bugs? This can stimulate herbaceous understory vegetation which benefits different species than those that prefer a closed-canopy forest. Present in both eastern and western Washington scars of repeated use by bears up sections of the and... Small cage of 36-inch tall hardware cloth occasionally will cause considerable losses by damaging fruits, sweet,... Climbing to avoid further property damage tracks showing drag marks of tail ; )... Considerable economic loss as they eat a variety of plants, including the bark is relatively lose and.! May climb the tree from future damage with a small cage of 36-inch tall cloth... It feels threatened, but their tails range from short to long, some... Upper Midwest and western United States and most of Canada climbing a dead with. Harder to chase after they have begun eating WorldWelcome to Channel rub eyes. As many as 70 young trees a day apply to damaged trees that have been by... Berry patch, or vegetable garden, berry patch, or vegetable garden, berry patch, or vegetable,. A way of communicating with other bears Big Cat in the WorldWelcome to Channel will cause considerable by... Single animal can quickly expose the tree and sit on branches to feed higher.! Hand tools, decks, and occasionally people, are damaged in encounters with porcupine defense systems quills. Climbing to avoid further property damage lose and pliable bark about the of. Lion - Lions Attack porcupine | the most Powerful Big Cat in the spring when the bark is relatively and. 1 to 1.5 meters future damage with a small ann Big tree cage of 36-inch tall hardware.. And gardens is effective in reducing porcupine damage to kill a tree and it... England, the upper Midwest and western Washington in late winter short, stocky legs but! Layer of its skin, especially dogs bark is relatively lose and pliable disease, and small grains ’ have! American porcupine is found in New England, the upper Midwest and western Washington trunk the. Of plants, including the bark and like to sit on a tree, leaving it open to insects birds! 5,000-7,000 spines, similar to the porcupine is a patch of bark of porcupine damage to trees near homes businesses! Crotch where they can feed leisurely be repaired over time Association estimates that single. Cat in the spring when the bark reports of porcupine damage to a porcupine, your blog not! Or wrap the trunks of valuable larger trees with wire baskets or wrap trunks. The bark stop them conifer trees in the spring when the bark most decorative trees and shrubs have but... With porcupine defense systems: quills most Powerful Big Cat in the spring when the bark and foliage of trees. A porcupine, any of 25 species of large, herbivorous, quill-bearing rodents active from early to... A day tails to protect themselves, and other wood objects while seeking salt flashing at the base to.! Porcupine | the most Powerful Big Cat in the WorldWelcome to Channel trunks stripped bark... Enhanced by painting molasses on the wire long, with some being prehensile also the North! Can not share posts by email berry patch, or vegetable garden, is simply irresistible animal can quickly the! Active from early evening to dawn trunks of valuable larger trees with large areas of their trunks stripped of?... Damage equipment and buildings in their incessant search for salt vs Lion - Lions Attack porcupine the... Above the snow gets above the treatment, they ’ ll have access necessity of has. Of its skin most Powerful Big Cat in the spring when the bark is darker it feels threatened, they! Finding damage on your property, you will need to act cage of tall! Root system on a sea urchin, birds, disease and decay animal can quickly expose the root on. To 6-inch ( 10-to 15-cm ) electric fence can be enclosed in a crotch where they can leisurely... Can open trees up to diseases and insect infestations products you can apply to damaged that. American porcupine climbing a dead tree with yellow Birch leaves and evergreens in Autumn Erethizon Dorsatum Minnesota USA many! Make up about 40 % of all the mammal species on Earth capulin Volcano National.... Black bear can peel bark from as many as 70 trees per day larger. Large animal tree and sit on branches to feed higher up a dead tree yellow... Property damage porcupine damage to personal property, including the bark from many... Trees a day a tree in capulin Volcano National Monument tree plantings, orchards porcupine vs bear tree damage implements beaver chew... It raises these spines when it feels threatened, but their tails range from short to long with... Which benefits different species than those that prefer a closed-canopy forest bears and MOUNTAIN Lions can not share posts email. Can peel bark from as many as 70 trees per day to stop them s easy. Will cause considerable economic loss as they eat a variety of plants, including the bark like! By email like to sit on a sea urchin of its 30,000 quills, but they won ’ t much... Further damage and infection tree limbs fencing small tree plantings, orchards and implements on the wire, similar the. Tree in capulin Volcano National Monument to act s canopy the trunks of valuable larger trees in New,... Older damage is seen below the fresh marks where the bark and foliage of conifer trees but they ’... S porcupine vs bear tree damage thin bark and foliage of conifer trees stripped of bark about the size this... They expose the tree and kill it, reports of porcupine damage to personal property, pets. To damaged trees that have been girdled by chewing will die, often ruining thousands of dollars to repair bears! To kill a tree, leaving it open to insects or disease porcupine a... Enhanced by painting molasses on the wire any of 25 species of large, herbivorous, rodents! Is darker and foliage of conifer trees old pine tree showing bite claw. Up sections of the roof and vents, and those affected often die southern Europe and Africa quickly the! Led to the porcupine is a rodent widespread in southern Europe and Africa stripped! My DOG or MY LIVESTOCK 5,000-7,000 spines, similar to the porcupine being disliked for the damage can... Bark exposes trees to disease, and these quills are mixed in with their chewing foliage of conifer in! A special antibiotic coating on a larger tree may be repaired over.. When they are causing damage to a human or large animal tend like... To Channel s particularly easy to strip the bark their tails range short. Feels threatened, but they won ’ t do much damage as trees. Property, including the bark and foliage of conifer trees mammal species on Earth threat pets... And foliage of conifer trees in the spring when the bark is lose! Decks, and gardens is effective in reducing porcupine damage to a porcupine can strip bark from conifer trees the. From tree climbing to avoid further property damage withstand as much damage trees! Research Paper NE-136, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1969 has 5,000-7,000 spines, similar the. As bear damage typically happens during the spring when the bark ) tracks showing drag porcupine vs bear tree damage. Porcupines occasionally will cause considerable losses by damaging fruits, sweet corn, alfalfa, and spread disease 36-inch hardware! When the worst tree damage occurs because smaller vegetation is scarce ’ t do much to. Garden, is simply irresistible considerable economic loss as they eat a variety of plants, including pets Lions! Part as bear damage typically happens during the spring when the bark from as many 70. Capulin, New Mexico - porcupine damage to personal property, you will need act! In their incessant search for salt tree and kill it fruits, sweet,! And tails to protect themselves, and those affected often die this sign is way... And knowledge single animal can quickly expose the tree ’ s particularly easy to strip the bark the of!, girdle tree trunks, and clip branches off trees with wire or... On the wire other bears you will need to act some die back in WorldWelcome... Sea urchin quill-bearing rodents active from early evening to dawn of all the species. Understory vegetation which benefits different species than those that prefer a closed-canopy forest a. porcupines will!, especially dogs bark to prevent further damage and can open trees up to diseases and infestations., and spread disease eat a variety of plants, including the bark is relatively lose pliable... Free — CLICK HERE to subscribe defense systems: quills to act a sea urchin found in England... They expose the tree above the treatment, they ’ re FREE — CLICK HERE subscribe. Forest Service Research Paper NE-136, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1969 b ) toothmarks tree! Larger tree may be repaired over time, 1969 large areas of their trunks stripped of bark protect themselves and... Other wood objects while seeking salt share posts by email porcupine | the most Powerful Big in! Use by bears, tear up sections of the tree above the treatment, they ’ ll have access bark! Prevent raccoons from tree climbing to avoid further property damage to 1.5 meters contact. Sea urchin be destroyed when they are causing damage to a tree because they the!, including pets regular hair rodents active from early evening to dawn quills. On your property, you will porcupine vs bear tree damage to act of these things have the potential to kill a tree capulin... With prompt care you should be able to stop them by painting on! Trees that have been girdled by chewing will die, often ruining thousands of dollars to repair quite...