Deer or Squirrels?

[wytonpjs]

Collective HIVE advice please, what caused this bark stripping photographed today?

 

[wytonpjs]

More pictures available

 

[The Singing Stalker]

You left out, “haven’t a kin clue”

 

[Jon P]

Both

 

[Camdig]

Am saying deer but not convinced the top picture is.

 

[308rws]

Deer

 

[VSS]

Deer.

 

[Cyres]

Couple of questions. To what height was the bark damage and how recent.?
Squirrels strip bark in the Spring not winter.
If not deer it might be hares or both.
D

 

[VSS]

Couple of questions. To what height was the bark damage and how recent.?
Squirrels strip bark in the Spring not winter.
If not deer it might be hares or both.
D

Hare is a definite possibility. I'd go along with that suggestion.

 

[TringSaint]

When my sheep strip bark it looks the same, so I have gone with deer

 

[GR788]

I would say deer looking at the height of the damage but happy to be proven wrong!

 

[Nimrod1960]

Oh!
I thought you meant preference for breakfast.
Sorry

 

[wytonpjs]

Couple of questions. To what height was the bark damage and how recent.?
Squirrels strip bark in the Spring not winter.
If not deer it might be hares or both.
D

All less than 4’
All within the last few days
Whilst hares are present, many stripped areas are simply too high off the ground

 

[Donkey Basher]

4 & 5 look like deer to me.

1 looks like squirrels.

Not sure about 2 & 3 as difficult to judge scale.

 

[Cyres]

Hare could reach 2 ft easily.
Trail cam may provide the answer
D

 

[jall55]

I think squirrels - they are actively drey building round us at the moment

The only one that sways me is the picture where the tube has been smashed - that could be deer

 

[Klenchblaize]

ALQ

K

 

[Norfolk Muntjac]

4 & 5 look like deer to me.

1 looks like squirrels.

Not sure about 2 & 3 as difficult to judge scale.

I would agree with this analysis.

 

[old 30-06]

I disagree with the majority on here. My vote is for squirrels ! Set up a trial camera and prove me right !

 

[old 30-06]

Hares only go for bark as a last option when the ground is covered by snow, and they are unable to feed on grass. As the ground is quite soft at the moment any deer slot marks would show out, and I cannot see any in your photos. If a deer was there for some time doing that damage you would find deer poo. Squirrels !