Maple tree bark stripping - Ask Extension
We have a large maple tree in our yard. We recent discovered a large area had been stripped of bark. The bark chips can be seen on the ground. It a...
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Maple tree bark stripping #877853
Asked July 18, 2024, 8:27 PM EDT
We have a large maple tree in our yard. We recent discovered a large area had been stripped of bark. The bark chips can be seen on the ground. It almost looks like some animal gnawed the bark away, but we have not seen anything do that. We are concerned about the health of the tree and if we should do something.
Washtenaw County Michigan
Expert Response
I do not believe something is actively peeling off the bark. It appears that section of the tree is dying, and the bark is flaking off or being removed by animals foraging for insects under the bark. Unfortunately it's hard to tell from these photos. Cell phones attempt to smooth over images to make them look nicer when you zoom in. Details are often lost, so I can't make out the patterns of the markings.
To get an overall assessment of the trees health and to find out why this is happening, I would recommend contacting an arborist.
A certified arborist can be found at treesaregood.org.
To get an overall assessment of the trees health and to find out why this is happening, I would recommend contacting an arborist.
A certified arborist can be found at treesaregood.org.
