Squirrel Damage – To Maple Roots
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Q: I have a critter ripping, shredding and eating up my sugar maples. It’s becoming a big problem.
A: Wow- impressive!
I think it’s squirrels looking for water and/or something to eat. The base of a tree around the trunk/root flare has quite a concentration of sugars and salts.
I see it occurring higher in trees in spring when sapsuckers peck tree trunks to drink sap.
See Squirrel Damage – On Maple.
My advice is to get some Hot Pepper Wax and spray on the roots of affected trees.