Hello everyone! Wondering if anyone can give me an idea of what kind of animal munched my little fruit trees. It seemed to have happened in the middle of winter. We had a LOT of snow this year and I assumed that my dormant trees will be ok and I delayed on setting up the wire cages around them... big mistake! The bark is chewed in the middle of the trees, in all of them, the damage is at the same height (about a foot above the ground and about a foot in height). Then lots of little droppings are right next to the tree trunks! How can this be? If it was a deer they will be a bit further away from the tree, don't you think? If it was a bunny the munching would be lower... so I am at a loss.
Do you think the little trees still stand a chance? I believe little buds will sprout below the damage. Above the damage it is pretty much dead already.
I am already digging trenches to bury chicken wire to protect them from gophers (big problem around here) and will also set up cages around them.
Definitely rabbits. You said you had a lot of snow this winter, which allows rodents to make tunnels at whatever height they feel safely below the surface. It doesn't have to be at ground level.
