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Anyone know what might have done this?

K

kr1

Joined
May 30, 2006
Messages
1,343
Had a good day out hunting today. Didn't get anything but still found several things of interest. A couple of birds nests to use for firestarting and two paper wasp nests. One destroyed and another intact. Anyway I also came across this. Took a peek in as best I could but couldn't see all the way through so it looked like they were all separate entries. There are actually three separate areas that have been worked over. Two actually entries and one in the first picture that was kind of hollowed out.

I know I'm not giving much information. The opening was about 8 -10 inches and as you might be able to make out some of the chips are fairly large. It was located in a very marshy area. I saw nothing in the form of scat. I really don't know if either something was digging for food, or if something was trying to make a home.

Any ideas anyone might have I'd be interested in hearing.

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A bear may do that if it was trying to get termites out. Maybe skunks burrowing?
 
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My guess would be Pileated Woodpeckers.
 
protourist said:
My guess would be Pileated Woodpeckers.
Click to expand...

That was actually one of my first thoughts but I have never seen one do that to a tree laying down and never anything that extensive. And I also thought of the bear but saw nothing else to indicate one. No scat or scrapping on other trees or prints. I really don't know what it was. Skunks are an excellent thought that I didn't think of.
 
I wouldn't be surprised to find them in fallen trees. If there are insects in the wood the woodpecker will be there.

http://www.wildaboutgardening.org/en/features/section2/woodpecker/woodpecker.htm

"Dead or dying trees, stumps, and logs are essential for pileated woodpeckers for nesting, roosting, and feeding. Some suburban areas have enough old trees to attract pileateds. If you would like to entice them to your property, be sure to protect older trees, logs, and stumps wherever possible. If necessary, remove any hazardous dead branches that are in danger of falling and causing damage to people and property."
 
I would say pilated woodpecker, too. BTW have you ever heard their call? sounds like a droid off of Star Wars. Freaked me out the first time.


Rick
 
[youtube]cH4WAgMxeAc[/youtube]
Obviously his bill is not S30V.:D
 
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I find the same type thing from time to time here but I've never caught the animal in the act.
 
My second wife. She's been known to annihilate more wood than.............................. oh, never mind. I'll go with the Woodpecker scenario.
 
That's pretty clearly the work of a pileated woodpecker.

By the way, KR1, if you examine the log closely, you should be able to find other signs of the pileated woodpecker. For example, you should be able to find some scratch marks from where its claws held on (especially visible on the surface of the old, discolored wood and bark). And, if you want to know how recently this was done (to know whether the pileated woodpecker might still be in the area), you can determine the age of the pile of wood chips by looking for cobwebs on the surface, moisture penetration, fungal growth, insect infestation, etc.
 
It's . . . SCUZZLEBUTT! :eek: :D

no seriously the wood looks very pithy to me so I'd say it could be a coon/skunk after some termites/roaches/ants/grubs. course then again. that'd have to be the friggin Mr hyde of Pileated Peckers to make that big of a mess!

Jason
 
JasonSCarter said:
It's . . . SCUZZLEBUTT! :eek: :D

no seriously the wood looks very pithy to me so I'd say it could be a coon/skunk after some termites/roaches/ants/grubs. course then again. that'd have to be the friggin Mr hyde of Pileated Peckers to make that big of a mess!

Jason
Click to expand...

Actually it's a pretty common example of woodpecker damage.
damage.jpg
 
Pileated.
I am fortunate to have them where I live and have watched them closely for years. I have seen them spend a lot of time on the ground working on trees of all sizes. They are quite awesome!
 
JasonSCarter said:
that'd have to be the friggin Mr hyde of Pileated Peckers to make that big of a mess!

Jason
Click to expand...

That's well within the normal range of damage from pileated woodpeckers. And judging by the size of the wood chips, that's as I would expect from them, too. Their destructive capabilities are remarkable.
 
Magnussen said:
I would say pilated woodpecker, too. BTW have you ever heard their call? sounds like a droid off of Star Wars. Freaked me out the first time.


Rick
Click to expand...

Yeah, they have a cool call. Especially when they do it while flying by you.

Ever heard them demolishing your back porch...that sounds kind of wierd too. Heck of thing to wake up to. I've got pics of it somewhere.



.
 
Evolute said:
That's well within the normal range of damage from pileated woodpeckers. And judging by the size of the wood chips, that's as I would expect from them, too. Their destructive capabilities are remarkable.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected! I dont think we have those in my area so seeing that much damage from 1 bird is unheard of 'round these parts. :o:p

Jason
 
I have seen trees like that (in protourist's picture) and I have watched in awe them in action. How they don't scramble their brains is amazing in itself and then the chips that go flying is really incredable. They are a destroying machine. I think you guys may have got it. The chip size reminded me of a pileated. And I have seen trees vertical that have been damaged very badly like the one pictured but never one vertically or one laying down damaged as badly as this one and it all looked fresh to me, like it was done over a pretty short period of time. I have never heard their call, at least I don't think I have. I did see some other woodpecker evidence but I'm sure it was a downy (or something like it).

Thanks for the help guys. Keep any other ideas coming but you guys probably are correct.

KR
 
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