Cedar Tree Branches "cut off" by something

Question: Hello! We have a very mature cedar hedge between our driveway and that of the neighbors. I noticed some brown branches. I went out to cut them off and much to my surprise I could pull the branches out without cutting them! The branches appear to have been cut at the trunk. They are not branches that were left by the pruners because I can pull the entire branch out of the tree. All of the branches have similar clean, grooved cuts at an angle. There are no tear marks, so I don't think these broke off over the winter (and they haven't been brown all spring). What can I do?

responder: Melanie,  UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer  Replied June 29, 2023, 7:55 AM EDT
response: Hi Paul, Thank you for contacting the University of Vermont Master Garden Helpline and providing photos. What a surprise it must have been to be able to pull out the branches without any effort. This type of damage is common and is caused by a critter - most likely a rabbit. Voles can be eliminated since their gnaw marks are irregular and at various angles; deer damage has a rough or torn appearance; squirrels can snip off a branch but the cut is tattered; porcupines strip the bark. Rabbits on the other hand use their incisors to make the clean, diagonal 45 degree angle cut when clipping off older woody twigs. Most rabbit damage is close to the ground and is no higher than 2-3 feet above ground. In the winter, when food is limited, rabbits eat twigs and gnaw the bark of woody plants. Although cedars are not a favorite of rabbits, they will feed on any small tree or shrub when food is scarce. A photo with similar damage to yours: https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/small-cedar-hedge-shows-possible-winter-animal-damage/ Rabbits are active year-round during the day or night during summer or the warmer periods of the day during winter. You can identify the presence of rabbits by their tracks, pea-sized droppings, and markings. Tracks made by their hind feet are much longer than the front feet and are placed as pairs ahead of the slightly staggered front feet in the snow or soft earth.  The best overall strategy for protecting your shrubs from damage is to reduce areas of habitat by removing brush piles, tall dense grasses or stone piles. If the rabbits are abundant, you may consider fencing such as chicken wire fencing or hardware cloth. In many situations this is not possible so repellents may be an option. The following websites provide details: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/protecting-trees-and-shrubs-winter https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/animals/rabbits  I hope this helps and happy gardening!

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 29, 2023, 8:35 AM EDT
response: Thank you for your prompt response! There are several factors that I think rule out rabbits, plus some new information I just learned. The damage is on a very mature, dense hedge between two paved driveways (no piles of brush, tall grasses, etc). The damage is much higher than 2-3 feet off the ground. We have never seen any rabbits around here.Here are two more pictures and a new discovery. Notice the dead branches up high, about six feet off the ground. I took the picture and then pulled one of the branches and sure enough, it pulled right out.  On further inspection I saw that the trunks of several of the cedars have been stripped of their bark!  The second picture shows one of these. There are more that are stripped.  Can this be a porcupine?  I have never seen a porcupine around here (we live in an older, dense neighborhood of Montpelier near a big open field behind houses on the other side of a residential street), but I suppose that is possible.Thanks again for your help!PaulOn Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 7:55 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 29, 2023, 8:35 AM EDT
response: Thank you for your prompt response! There are several factors that I think rule out rabbits, plus some new information I just learned. The damage is on a very mature, dense hedge between two paved driveways (no piles of brush, tall grasses, etc). The damage is much higher than 2-3 feet off the ground. We have never seen any rabbits around here.Here are two more pictures and a new discovery. Notice the dead branches up high, about six feet off the ground. I took the picture and then pulled one of the branches and sure enough, it pulled right out.  On further inspection I saw that the trunks of several of the cedars have been stripped of their bark!  The second picture shows one of these. There are more that are stripped.  Can this be a porcupine?  I have never seen a porcupine around here (we live in an older, dense neighborhood of Montpelier near a big open field behind houses on the other side of a residential street), but I suppose that is possible.Thanks again for your help!PaulOn Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 7:55 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Melanie,  UVM Extension Master Gardener Volunteer  Replied June 29, 2023, 10:12 AM EDT
response: Hi Paul, Thank you for the additional info – it is very helpful knowing that the critter also strips the bark off the branches of the cedar which leads me to believe that this critter is a squirrel. Squirrels occasionally damage trees by chewing off small branches and stripping bark in the winter/spring. The shredding from the bark can be used for their nests and they also have been known to chew on it.  The website, https://icwdm.org/identification/barkstripping/ provides additional information. Squirrels can be difficult to control since they are very capable climbers. Your best bet is to deter them and hopefully that would encourage them to stop visiting. According to the websites listed below, there are some techniques you can try: - Spray shrubs with taste repellents or the hot ingredient in chili peppers (capsaicin). Just like many of us, squirrels don't like the tastes that these products have. You will need to reapply repellents as they lose effectiveness over time due to rain and exposure to the outdoors - Physical barriers. Wrap the affected areas in wire to prevent further chewing but the squirrel may pick another branch to munch on. Putting up sheet metal around the trunk six to eight feet above the ground is also a possibility. The following links provide additional details. https://wildlife.unl.edu/pdfs/control-tree-squirrel-damage.pdf http://wildlifecontrol.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Tree-Squirrels.pdf  Keep an eye out for any further damage. Because barkstripping is predominantly done in the winter/spring, the squirrels may take a break until next year. Thank you again for the additional info and I hope this helps.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 29, 2023, 11:58 AM EDT
response: Thank you, this is very helpful!PaulOn Thu, Jun 29, 2023 at 10:12 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: