Animal Damage
Forest Health Guide for Georgia Foresters
Written by Terry Price, Georgia Forestry Commission
Adapted for the web by the Bugwood Network
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Animals that are damaging to trees or forestry are beaver, deer, rabbit, certain burrowing rodents, and seed-eating birds.
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Beavers are beneficial to water conservation and wildlife habitat development, but some timber producers can suffer substantial timber losses when timber stands are flooded (Figure 162). Based on a Georgia Forestry Commission beaver damage survey in 1975, the total damage to pine and hardwood was estimated at $45 million statewide. The area of damage increased by 128 percent between 1967 and 1975. Over 287,000 acres were inundated in 1975.
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Figure 162
photo by Bill Godfrey |
Trapping is an effective method in reducing beaver in local areas, but it must be kept up over a long period for complete control.
Deer damage young pine stands by feeding on the terminals of recently planted pine seedlings. Damage to pine seedlings appears to be heaviest in February and March where natural browse has been damaged by frost.
Christmas trees and young trees in seed orchards are often damaged when antlered bucks use them for scraping posts.
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Animal repellents provide short-term control but are not economical for large areas. Seed orchard trees can be wrapped with various materials such as heavy Kraft paper or burlap.
Cotton rats and meadow voles, periodically damage young pine stands by gnawing at the base of trees (Figure 163). Frequent mow-ing between rows of trees can reduce damage from cotton rats and so can prescribed fire by reducing cover. Pine voles damage young pines by feeding underground and stripping the lateral roots.
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Figure 163
photo by Terry Price |
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Rabbits damage seedlings by gnawing or biting them off at various heights. There are two signs in the field that will help foresters determine whether the seedlings were damaged by deer or rabbits:
- Deer clip the seedlings straight across and leave a ragged edge; rabbits clip them off at an angle (Figure 164).
- Droppings will usually be present. Rabbit pellets are usually deposited at the base or near the base of damaged seedlings. Deer droppings are deposited at random throughout the area. It is not uncommon to find droppings from both animals in the same area. Rabbit droppings are round, whereas deer droppings are oval.
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Figure 164
photo by Terry Price |
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Squirrels are not considered serious pests of forest trees, however, when mast production has been affected by drought or other phenomenon, trees in forests, cities, and yards can be seriously damaged. Shade trees can be completely stripped of their bark on most of the branches (Figure 165). Branches damaged by squirrels are often infected with fungi that cause further dieback in the tree. Pines damaged by squirrels are often infested with Ips beetles. Isolated trees can be banned with metal flashing to prevent squirrels from climbing in them. Banding cannot adequately protect trees growing next to buildings and other structures. Trapping squirrels in live traps and transporting them to other areas has not proven effective either. In time, natural forces tend to reduce squirrel overpopulation.
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Figure 165
photo by Terry Price |
Several species of scratching birds can consume enough pine seed to render artificially seeded areas worthless. Pine seed should be treated with a repellent before they are sown or broadcast.
Table 5 lists some of the more common methods of controlling/preventing animal pests. Be sure to check with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources before applying any control to an animal population. Game laws change periodically depending on animal population trends.
| Table 5: Control/Prevention Recommendations for Animal Pests |
| Pest | Control/Prevention Options |
| Beaver | Steel Traps/Install log drains |
| Birds | Use treated seed |
| Deer | Fencing/Control hunting |
| Rabbits | Mow to reduce cover |
| Cotton Rats | Mow or burn to reduce cover |
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