Squirrels have removed significant amounts of bark from this maple to get at the tasty cambium layer underneath. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR
By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665
Squirrels can be fun to feed and fun to watch, but when they start damaging or killing your trees, well, that’s not so cute.
It’s the time of year when we start to have some warm days that allow sap to start moving in trees. If there are broken branches or damaged bark, the tree can drip sap. And that can attract squirrels.
Continue reading “Squirrels Can Damage Trees During Late Winter”
Wisconsin winters with subzero weather can create problems for our trees. Frost cracks are one of those problems we’re seeing an uptick of lately. These longitudinal openings can run the entire length of the trunk, often extend deep into the wood, and permanently damage a tree. In wintertime, the tree may even look like it’s splitting in half! Then warmer weather comes, and the crack seems to close, repeating this process annually. Over time, frost cracks may even develop a raised area where callus tissue develops in an attempt to close over the wound, only to reopen again next winter. 
Have a job opening you need to get the word out about before the busy field season ramps up?
Now is the time to sign up for Run for the Trees: Happy Little (Virtual) 5K! Run, walk or roll to support tree planting and forest protection efforts in state parks. The program was started in 2019 when Bob Ross Inc. partnered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to raise awareness of and money for tree planting and has since expanded to 13 states. 
*These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute an endorsement from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
