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Lilac > Stems/branches > Bark or small branches chewed or removed

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  • deer1
    Credit: M. Grabowski, University of Minnesota
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green arrowDeer Browsing

  • Leaves, flowers, buds, and small branches less than an inch in diameter are cut off.
  • Plant parts are torn off leaving ragged edges
  • Feeding occurs from the ground to about 6 feet
  • More information on Deer Browsing...
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  • rabbit1
    Credit: M. Grabowski, University of Minnesota
  • rabbit2

    Credit: M. Grabowski, University of Minnesota

  • rabbit3

    Credit: M. Grabowski, University of Minnesota

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green arrowRabbit Feeding

  • Bark from stems is removed to a height of about 2 feet above the ground or the snowline
  • Regular scraping the size of a spoon tip will be present in the damaged wood
  • Smaller stems are typically cut off with a sharp edge at a 45 degree angle
  • Majority of bark feeding occurs in winter and early spring
  • Rabbit droppings (small, round pellets) are often found near the damaged shrubs
  • More information on Rabbit Feeding...
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  • vole1
    Credit: Robert L. Anderson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
  • vole2

    Credit: USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station Archive, Bugwood.org

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green arrowVole damage

  • bark is completely removed from stems or in irregular patches
  • damage occurs in winter and the bark is removed only below the snowline
  • only bark is removed, no branches or small stems are cut off as in rabbit damage
  • wood will show scrapings the size of fork tines
  • More information on vole damage...

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