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Destructive critter?

C

Chris152

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Our small (6') fig tree has been in the ground a couple of years. But today, I noticed it wasn't there - it had been there a few days ago.

It's been gnawed away at the bottom, a bit like a cartoon beaver's work but on a smaller scale. It really is quite neat and precise. My first thought was rat, but then I remembered seeing a stoat or something similar among some logs in the garden a couple of years ago. It seems too purposeful for a rat, and I want it to be something less offensive. Any thoughts?

IMG_20260225_162254_edit_46928277437629.jpg
 
Are you anywhere near water? Stoats and weasels don't chew trees.
 
Mike G said:
Are you anywhere near water? Stoats and weasels don't chew trees.
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There's a river about 100 yards away, but I've never seen anything coming to the garden from there (a couple of roads in the way).
That's a shame, I was hoping it'd be something at least nice to look out for. I know there are rats about, too.
 
My first reaction I think is the same as @Mike G I suspect, that's no cartoon Beaver but very much akin to the real thing.

Has the removed wood been left as chippings surrounding the stump? Beavers don't usually eat the wood chips, only the bark, but leave chippings as a wood pile, .
Around here Deer of various species remove the bark but I've never seen them gnaw at the heart wood.
 
Oh that is such a shame. I can't help identifying the culprit, but I do have a question.

How on earth did you get a 6' fig tree after only a couple of years? I planted a fig tree here the first spring. So we are about to go into our fourth season. I planted it in a square plastic pot to contain its roots, it is against a south-facing wall, it has luscious foliage and generally looks very healthy. We keep it well watered.
It's still only about 18" tall. And of course, no fruit yet.
It is Brown Turkey.
S
 
Steve Maskery said:
Oh that is such a shame. I can't help identifying the culprit, but I do have a question.

How on earth did you get a 6' fig tree after only a couple of years? I planted a fig tree here the first spring. So we are about to go into our fourth season. I planted it in a square plastic pot to contain its roots, it is against a south-facing wall, it has luscious foliage and generally looks very healthy. We keep it well watered.
It's still only about 18" tall. And of course, no fruit yet.
It is Brown Turkey.
S
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It belonged to the ex, and lived in a large plastic pot for about a decade after she moved on. It was resilient, as I kept forgetting to water it. So a couple of years ago I put it in the ground and it seemed to be thriving, tricky to get the fruit ripe but we had some. And yes, it's a real shame - tho fortunately, the neighbour has a large fig tree that overhangs our garden and it's very productive!
 
CHJ said:
My first reaction I think is the same as @Mike G I suspect, that's no cartoon Beaver but very much akin to the real thing.

Has the removed wood been left as chippings surrounding the stump? Beavers don't usually eat the wood chips, only the bark, but leave chippings as a wood pile, .
Around here Deer of various species remove the bark but I've never seen them gnaw at the heart wood.
Click to expand...
I missed the chance to check, Chas - I was cutting back raspberry bushes and piling the offcuts into the same part of the garden, before I realised there was supposed to be a small three there. :-(
 
Ah, so well aged, just relocated. Fair enough. Still a shame though.
I have peach blossom on a tree planted only last spring. Fingers crossed.
S
 
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The previous owner planted a fig tree. Right by the wall of the house. Out of any sunshine. It was huge. The leaves stank to high heaven. God knows what it was doing to the house. It is now a very 'late' fig tree.

Did you guys know to be careful when cutting and pruning it as the sap can irritate skin.
 
Chris152 said:
Our small (6') fig tree has been in the ground a couple of years. But today, I noticed it wasn't there - it had been there a few days ago.

It's been gnawed away at the bottom, a bit like a cartoon beaver's work but on a smaller scale. It really is quite neat and precise. My first thought was rat, but then I remembered seeing a stoat or something similar among some logs in the garden a couple of years ago. It seems too purposeful for a rat, and I want it to be something less offensive. Any thoughts?

View attachment 39639
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Rabbit :unsure:
 
There's a mile or so of valley quite close to me that's nearly all managed as wildlife habitat that has traces of defunct mill races and associated ponds that is regularly subjected to uncontrolled flood and reciprocal drought that I'd love to see Beavers managing.
It would once more highlight the stranded stone clapper bridges on the various footpaths for what they once were.

Seeing a Beaver going about his felling of a 200mm dia. tree completely ignoring the fact that you're watching is an experience never forgotten.
(Fishing Lakes in Danube Valley area of Bavaria)
 
Whatever the critter, I'll be keeping an eye out from now on! We have an active lurcher in the household, who generally patrols and keeps little nuisances at bay, but the past weeks it's been so wet and chilly that the back doors have been mostly closed. I shall have words with him.
 
The only creatures other than beaver which I know of which gnaw on saplings are deer. They tend to take the tops out, though, or chew the bark, rather than chew through the base. I reckon you've got a beaver family nearby.
 
Rabbits gnaw saplings. We planted three hundred birch and beech a few years ago and rabbits were a menace. We used spiral tree guards extensively. Rabbits will chew all the way round and in a thin sapling they can pretty much chew through.
 
Yep, fair comment, although it is a bit thicker than the sticks rabbits normally chew, I reckon. And this might be rabbits as it is nearer the ground than beavers often chew.

Time to put a game camera out.
 
Steve Maskery said:
Oh that is such a shame. I can't help identifying the culprit, but I do have a question.

How on earth did you get a 6' fig tree after only a couple of years? I planted a fig tree here the first spring. So we are about to go into our fourth season. I planted it in a square plastic pot to contain its roots, it is against a south-facing wall, it has luscious foliage and generally looks very healthy. We keep it well watered.
It's still only about 18" tall. And of course, no fruit yet.
It is Brown Turkey.
S
Click to expand...
Plant it in the ground Steve... it's the only way if you want a large tree *quickly* as being in a pot restricts the growth.

If I want to get any of my 'Bonsai' to be bigger in the trunk etc., then they go in the ground... remove the tap root though otherwise there'd be problems when I want to dig it up to then put into a bonsai pot.
 
Cabinetman said:
@Chris152 so whereabouts in the world are you? Presuming uk, it would be interesting to know as I reckon it must be Beavers and before we know it they will be everywhere.
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There’s an interactive map here Ian that shows where they have been released. It’s broader than I thought.

rewildatheart.com

UK Beaver Map – Every Reintroduction & Wild Population

Explore our comprehensive interactive map of beaver reintroductions and wild populations in Britain.
rewildatheart.com rewildatheart.com

I read a few weeks ago that they are expected to have a positive impact in reducing flood risk.
 
My first thought was rabbit too. When food is scarce for a longer period of time, as is has been the last month with all the snow, they will start eating bark. Most often they will only ring it. But if the wood is tasty enough, or they are hungry enough they will eat wet green wood as well.
 
Steve, I am quit a bit north of your location, but our fig in The Netherlands grows like you wouldn't believe. So, I suspect yours should be able to do OK where you are. I have to cut it back every autumn (immediately after it has shed its leaves). If I don't, it will start to grow against the wall of my workshop and I don't want that (its facade is made of larch). And, yes, the sap can be irritating to the skin for some people. When it gets on my hands there's no problem. But when it gets on the skin of my arms, then I will get red spots that might itch for a day.

The thing is, figs will only bear fruit on the ends of the branches. So, be careful when pruning it. Most species will only bear fruit on wood that was grown in the year before. If you are lucky enough you can get 2 harvests in a year from them. They will make the buds for the first cycle in the autumn. If the winter is mild enough (not lower than -5°C), or the tree was shielded properly, then you can get fruit from that first growth. If the summer is warm and long enough you can then get a second harvest late October. Sadly, we only have managed to get the second harvest. The fruit of the first cycle does sometimes grow, but it has never become mature. Our tree has always dropped it in late spring. The winter just is too cold over here, even with the whole climate thing. Getting the fruit of the second cycle is hard too, because the birds always seem to start picking it the day before we were planning to do so. :sneaky:
 
Cabinetman said:
@Chris152 so whereabouts in the world are you? Presuming uk, it would be interesting to know as I reckon it must be Beavers and before we know it they will be everywhere.
Click to expand...
We're in South Wales, but according to Robert's beaver map, there aren't any beavers near us, and I've not heard of any - plenty of otters now tho, apparently. At the other side of the garden, we planted a couple of apple trees at the same time as the fig. They're doing well so far, fingers crossed!
 
We had porcupines that ring barked the trees, tipped over pot plants for bulbs, destroyed gardens.
They were eventually caught and dispatched to a nature reserve 30km away. No good just dropping them off at the farm down the road, they have a GPS system and back here within days.
 
Phil said:
We had porcupines that ring barked the trees, tipped over pot plants for bulbs, destroyed gardens.
They were eventually caught and dispatched to a nature reserve 30km away. No good just dropping them off at the farm down the road, they have a GPS system and back here within days.
Click to expand...
I didn't know you had porcupines your way! Interesting.
 
A soon as any droppings are spotted I fence off the pots.
If the fence is too low the buck also do lots of eating!
 
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