Tree damage, what is the cause

[Code54]

Was down in the woods today and ran across this tree. The damage goes up almost 8 ｽ- 9 feet on the tree. The tree is dead but I did not find any insects in the wood, nor any tracks around the bottom.
I was thinking maybe a black bear (know there is one running about) but didn't see any tracks or claw marks so I was looking for other ideas?

 

[davesl708]

Appears to be dry rot. Tree has been dead for a long time. Rotting out from the inside. Possibly termites have had a good meal.

 

[/pine]

Could possibly be one of the smaller woodpecker species (Downy, Hairy etc)...

The debris pile looks like what a larger woodpecker leaves but they also would leave signs in the trunk...

 

[japody]

Appears to be dry rot. Tree has been dead for a long time. Rotting out from the inside. Possibly termites have had a good meal.

+1 What he said.

 

[BSnow]

Seems similar to damage I've seen from Pine Beetles (in pine trees) in Mississippi and Colorado.

 

[s219]

Probably wood peckers, but I have seen similar damage lower down on a tree from raccoons and possums tearing the wood apart to get at bugs. They both leave sizable chunks.

 

[dave1949]

The three vertical trenches in the trunk and chips below look similar to the work of pileated woodpeckers. In wood that soft, that is not a long job for a pileated woodpecker.

 

[Code54]

Thanks - we have a LOT of woodpeckers so that would make sense. It is also very dry and rotted so the two together maybe the cause.
When I first seen it from a distance I was thinking our resident bear got to it but when I got closer that got ruled out so I was at a loss.

 

[Egon]

The three vertical trenches in the trunk and chips below look similar to the work of pileated woodpeckers. In wood that soft, that is not a long job for a pileated woodpecker.

My suggestion also.

 

[tcreeley]

Wood peckers go after bugs, worms that are found in diseased/infested trees. They do us a service by attacking the bugs. When they tear into a tree- the tree has already been dead for sometime.

 

[jimmyj]

Agree with the woody woodpecker theory. The chunks on the ground look exactly like pileated work.

 

[Code54]

Pretty neat - thanks for info -I learned something new!

 

[dave1949]

Some pics I took today of Pileated woodpecker work. It (or they, there is usually a breeding pair for one large area) started on this tree early last week. Around here, if they work on a tree, you can be sure it has black ants in it, so they are not ruining a good tree normally.

Depending on the size of the ant infestation and the number of holes made, the tree may seal itself with sap and continue living. I doubt this tree will recover.


You can see the ant colony chambers in the heartwood.


They can make lots of holes as long as there are ants to eat.


The tree is alive, 40-45 foot tall and relatively healthy looking. The sweep in the trunk means it was stressed in some way or other during its life. That may have provided the opening for the ants. I'm not sure how the ants choose their trees. I've found them in both hard and soft wood species. It is quite a sight to see the ants come boiling out when you cut through a large colony with a chainsaw.


Wood chips. You can see a few exploratory holes. I don't know if the ants are detected by the resonance of the wood changing due to the ant colony voids, or by taste maybe?


Chapstick for size scale.

 

[jimmyj]

It amazes me that the 'peckers can hear the ants to know where to attack. Absolutely fascinating.

 

[TnAndy]

The three vertical trenches in the trunk and chips below look similar to the work of pileated woodpeckers. In wood that soft, that is not a long job for a pileated woodpecker.

Yep...that would be my guess. A pileated woodpecker is like a chainsaw with wings......and a REALLY hearty laugh !

 

[Code54]

Wow that is impressive. Never really knew much about woodpeckers so this is really interesting.
THANKS for the info and photos!!!!!

 

[dave1949]

Yep...that would be my guess. A pileated woodpecker is like a chainsaw with wings......and a REALLY hearty laugh !

Cartoon Woody Woodpecker aside, Pileated woodpeckers do sound like something that comes from the jungle. There several "song" samples here:
Pileated Woodpecker, Sounds, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

[dave1949]

Wow that is impressive. Never really knew much about woodpeckers so this is really interesting.
THANKS for the info and photos!!!!!

You are welcome. Just a coincidence that they are working that tree over near the end of our driveway where I noticed it.

Pileated woodpeckers are crucial to woodland cavity dwellers and nesters. I believe they are responsible for the majority of tree cavities in this area.