What are these?

[atfrith]

Went on my first scouting trip of the season and saw these marks on a tree. Hmm, bear? They looked like deep nail marks, but weren\'t in the shape of a paw ya know. The highest were probably a good 7-8 feet up the tree [attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->Image1465689086.848236.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]

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[F M]

Was the tree dead? Looks like a woodpecker after beetles.

 

[Don K]

X2 , my vote is Woodpecker

 

[cnelk]

Woodpecker

 

[bowhunter]

Was the tree dead? Looks like a woodpecker after beetles.

Yep looks like woodpecker to me.

 

[WW]

Woodpeckers? YEP!!

 

[atfrith]

Haha, well I feel dumb. I\'ve never seen anything like it. Haha. Woodpecker it is


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[iccyman001]

Are these also wood peckers?
I only find them on aspens and it\'s LITERED up in my unit.

 

[F M]

Nope.

 

[bowhunter]

That is from animals eating the bark. Porcupine probably.

 

[WW]

Could it be a bear marking his territory ? Hard to actually tell from the pictures.

 

[elkmtngear]

Could it be a bear marking his territory ? Hard to actually tell from the pictures.

The last pic looks like a bear.

 

[Stoneman]

It looks like \"barking\" to me, elk or moose eating the aspen bark in the winter when other forage is not available.

 

[bowhunter]

It looks like \"barking\" to me, elk or moose eating the aspen bark in the winter when other forage is not available.

I thought it looked like smaller tooth marks. Maybe squirrels too. Did a little searching and it seems that the Porcupine works on the tree around a limb that he can rest on. I believe it might be elk and deer.

Stoneman may be right. Here is a link to some info.

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[Stoneman]

Not that they don\'t, but I have never seen a porcupine eating aspen bark, I think they prefer pine trees. If there are moose in the area the chew marks will be higher and more destructive, otherwise elk.

 

[F M]

I am thinking elk or moose also. I think the inner bark drying out cracks when it dries making it look like claw marks.

 

[Don K]

Sure looks like Bear claws marking his territory...........

Probably a big 600 pound Boar that is marking the whole area to let Dan know to stay out!!!

 

[bowhunter]

Sure looks like Bear claws marking his territory...........

Probably a big 600 pound Boar that is marking the whole area to let Dan know to stay out!!!

I think Dan has a bear tag for this fall :mg: :mg: :mg: