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IDENTIFYING CAUSES OF DAMAGE
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Deer and elk - nipped stems show a rough
shredded edge and a square or ragged break. Rabbits
- stems with a smooth knife-like cut that usually has a 45o angle edge.
Voles - narrow (1/16 inch) cris-crossed tooth
marks on branch. Pocket gophers
- girdle tree roots, may gnaw bark above ground within snow drift.
Fox squirrels - strip bark from trees high
above ground, primarily damage deciduous trees. Porcupines
- gnaw bark usually high above ground, wide incisor marks on exposed sapwood,
primarily damage pine trees. Beaver
- damage results in cone shaped stumps of trees and freshly peeled sticks often
laying in the water. Rubbing
Deer and elk - remove velvet
from antlers by rubbing on trees, rubbing removes bark from 1 1/2 inches to 3
feet above the ground. Burrowing
Pocket gophers - burrow entrance
closed 99.9% of the time. Mound about 3 inches high and 18 inches in diameter
at the end of closed burrow, usually several mounds. Voles
- 1 to 1 1/2 inch open burrow, tunnels in grass, often several burrows.
Wyoming (Richardson's) ground squirrels - 2
inch open burrow, often several burrows. Thirteen-lined
ground squirrels - 1 1/2 inch open burrow, usually few burrows. Additional
information: Identification
and Assessment of Wildlife Damage: An Overview, in Prevention
and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook (contains a description of damage
caused by a variety of animals). Procedures
for Evaluating Predation on Livestock and Wildlife (contains descriptions
and photos of coyote, dog, fox, cougar, bobcat, bear, hog, eagle, and snake predation).
Interpreting
Evidence of Depredation of Duck Nests in the Prairie Pothole Region (contains
extensive information on identifying predators that kill waterfowl and depredate
nests). |
