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Honeylocust Bark Damage

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From: Terry Stone City: Waynesville, IL
What animal would strip the bark off of honeylocust trees in 1/2x3 inch strips. Just saw this today at Clinton Lake. This was done to several trees over about a mile of trail. Damage ranged from 5 ft off the ground to 20 feet.
	Extension Message From: Jay Hayek Extension Specialist, Forestry Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences jhayek@illinois.edu
Greetings Terry, Interesting question! Well, rabbit and vole damage during periods of high snow pack may explain the damage up to 3-5 feet, but certainly not to a height of 20 feet. Damage from beavers could also be a factor, but again, not to a height of 20 feet. Woodpeckers could also be a culprit. Trail maintenance (park staff) by selectively girdling the generally considered undesirable honeylocust could also explain some "intentional" damage, but again, not to a height of 20 feet.
From: Chalon Bernhardt City: Loveland, CO
Squirrels, they tend to do it primarily during heat waves looking for water. They like to focus efforts on areas that moisture may collect and the bases of branches. They tend to be messy about it, leaving little strips as their goal isn't really to eat the bark but to drink the sap. Honey locus, maples and elms seem to be favorites.
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