Is it a bear?

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Jan 10, 2004
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We were out in the woods today and we found a log that was shredded by an animal looking for the grubs living in the wood. We live in Indiana and we cannot figure out what did this. I thought I would ask the woods wise people here what they thought it was? Thanks



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Brother Bear eats anything he can find. The picture shows typical bear sign.

Bark removal on a MUCH lesser scale can be snunk sign.
 
The second picture shows what could be claw marks if you look close. I don't think a skunk could tear out such large chunks of wood.
 
The marks cutting across the log look to be claw marks to me too, I've only found one tree with the same type of torn apart bark, but the claw marks were really obvious.
 
My first guess was "Pileated woodpecker." They are big birds and can absolutely wreck a standing or fallen tree.


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
They do live around that area. I did not think a woodpecker could shred a tree like that.
 
Pileated Woodpeckers the original model for Woody Woodpecker! Grin!

Could have been a bear, but would they already be out of hibernation there? I think it's still Winter in the plains states IIRC! Bobcat could tear it up like that, lots of cats use scratching logs/trees as scent marking areas.
 
Pileated Woodpeckers the original model for Woody Woodpecker! Grin!

Could have been a bear, but would they already be out of hibernation there?

I live in southern Indiana. Bears are not supposed to live around here. Here are the coords where we saw the tree N39 17.608 W86 23.848.
 
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Pileated Woodpeckers...well the wood chips look to be the right size.

n2s
 
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