2010 was an extremely tough year for animal damage on local ponderosas. Sapsucker damage appeared on several sites, and was much more severe than previously seen (see cover). We also had a couple cases of what appeared to be porcupine damage, but turned out to be girdling by silver gray squirrels. Experts at OSU and APHIS are still trying to figure out why the squirrel populations suddenly developed a dietary preference for the inner bark of ponderosa pine, but the event did follow a very bad cone year in 2009. It does make one wonder if we ought to grind up the pine trees and sell them for food, if the animals like to eat them so much!
Return