Knowledgebase
Sugar pine tree problem #929284
Asked April 22, 2026, 6:17 PM EDT
Josephine County Oregon
Expert Response
In our area, porcupines and black bears are the primary animals that strip bark from large pine trees. Porcupines target the upper crown in winter (so probably not porcupines), while black bears often rip bark from the lower trunk in spring to eat the inner cambium layer. Other culprits for bark damage include squirrels. In my opinion, squirrels are the most likely culprit.