Redbud’s first winter - Ask Extension
Hi there,
Last summer I planted a redbud tree, and a friend of mine warned me that the bunnies would want to eat the bark, so I placed stem protec...
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Redbud’s first winter #923046
Asked December 22, 2025, 9:47 PM EST
Hi there,
Last summer I planted a redbud tree, and a friend of mine warned me that the bunnies would want to eat the bark, so I placed stem protectors on all stems in the clump. However, it appears that something else is eating the bark further up the tree. I don’t see any bunny tracks in the snow. Could squirrels be eating the bark? Any tips for further protecting this tree? I really hope it survives. Thank you!
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Good Morning,
Thank you for contacting the U of M Extension Service.
From viewing your photos, it appears that this could be squirrels or mice/voles. It looks like they've taken big chunks out of the bark. I would ensure that they cannot access your redbud from another tree with close branches (for squirrels). You could put fencing around the stems that has small enough holes to keep the mice out. But they may still climb the fence to access the bark.
Please click on the following link about keeping critters away from your trees:
Good Luck!
