Impact
Bark stripping damage reduces timber quality through staining (due to fungal infection) and structural defects and ultimately reduces timber value and yield. Weakened stems may break and trees that are ring-barked will die from that point up.
Damage varies across sites and between years and is difficult to predict. Thin barked species such as sycamore, beech, oak, sweet chestnut, pine, larch and Norway spruce are most at risk with trees aged between 10 and 40 years being most vulnerable.
Examples
EnlargeGrey squirrel damage to 18-year old planted oak in a farm woodland planting scheme
EnlargeGrey squirrel bark-stripping to main stem of sycamore
Enlarge Fresh grey squirrel basal damage to beech (bark strips visible)
EnlargeWindsnap to 40-year old Norway spruce following grey squirrel bark-stripping damage
