Eating tree bark

[Tn Joe]

Just watched a buck make a rub on some type of smooth bark tree. As the bark broke loose he would grab it in his mouth and start pulling it off going up the tree a couple feet, then eat it. Never seen that before. Now it looks like he made a rub 4ft tall.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Much more common for deer to eat tree bark up north where there is not as much vegetation as there is in Tennessee, but they do eat it when food is slim.

 

[Popcorn]

Deer are naturally curious about what's edible but the last "no acorn " year up on the plateau the destroyed everyone's fruit trees over the winter. The twigs were all bitten back and new growth bark was striped.

 

[ttf909]

Bsk posted about the tree bark . Can't find the post but believe he said watch out for this in the late season and try to protect your saplings .

 

[bigjohn]

I've watched deer, rabbits, goats and horses eat tree bark. Some people from my neck of the woods make it a family event every spring to cut a birch tree and eat the bark when the sap gets up good.

 

[Ski]

I'm not so sure he was targeting the tree because he was hungry. Sounds more like he was rubbing to create a bright, easily visible marker and the bark eating was likely just opportunistic. With all the warmth and rain we're having its hard to think deer are starving. Lots of fresh new green on the ground.

 

[RockMcL]

 

[Snake]

One year in Lewis Co . I watched a yearling pick up a twig eat the brown leaves then eat the rest of the twig like it was ice cream. There were a decent acorn crop that year too , I think they just eat that stuff as browse .

 

[younggun308]

One year in Lewis Co . I watched a yearling pick up a twig eat the brown leaves then eat the rest of the twig like it was ice cream. There were a decent acorn crop that year too , I think they just eat that stuff as browse .

Gotta get that fiber, somehow.

 

[BSK]

View attachment 160090

Can't tell, but is that a sassafras? If so, deer will eat sassafras bark.

 

[@fulldraw]

Can't tell, but is that a sassafras? If so, deer will eat sassafras bark.

Looks like a sumac. Most sassafras are dying due to laurel wilt disease, especially along Ky border.

 

[Squirle hunter]

You will know if you kill one that's been in sassafras. They taste a lot different.

 

[RockMcL]

Can't tell, but is that a sassafras? If so, deer will eat sassafras bark.

Didn't really pay attention when I had snapped the picture but probably was. There is a line/thicket of them that ends at the edge of the field there and I recall digging a few roots to to chaw on while working that area this summer.

I had heard deer don't like sassafras leaves & twig ends/buds and was not aware they liked the bark. I noticed this year that I have a lot more young sassafras and pawpaw and just assumed that the deer have other preferred browse.

My taste buds probably would agree with the deer on the smell/taste of the inner layer on the bark...

Thank you as always for your insight.

 

[Ski]

You will know if you kill one that's been in sassafras. They taste a lot different.

Reminds me of elk in NM. If they'd been browsing juniper berries the meat would have a black licorice undertone to it. Kinda weird. I suppose sassafras would be like rootbeer flavored meat?

 

[backyardtndeer]

I suppose sassafras would be like rootbeer flavored meat?

I wondered the same.

 

[RockMcL]

Looks like a sumac. Most sassafras are dying due to laurel wilt disease, especially along Ky border.

I am down near TN/AL border and we are covered up in sassafras here. I only pay attention to them in summer when leaved and this year in particular young sprouts/trees have had exponential growth. The mature ones I have noted over the years are still healthy and the roots are definitely expanding their runner range. Been know to chew a leaf or two and occasionally take a little root shoot to expose the grandkids to "sassafras" but do not use the tree medicinally or for tea.

 

[RockMcL]

I wondered the same.

If y'all can convince convince folks they can make root beer flavored deer by them eating sassafras, I'll sell em some cuttings...

 

[BSK]

Looks like a sumac. Most sassafras are dying due to laurel wilt disease, especially along Ky border.

Did not know that. Interesting.

 

[BSK]

I am down near TN/AL border and we are covered up in sassafras here. I only pay attention to them in summer when leaved and this year in particular young sprouts/trees have had exponential growth. The mature ones I have noted over the years are still healthy and the roots are definitely expanding their runner range. Been know to chew a leaf or two and occasionally take a little root shoot to expose the grandkids to "sassafras" but do not use the tree medicinally or for tea.

Did you know that in parts of the Deep South sassafras is the preferred species of tree for signpost rubs? In my part of TN, it's eastern cedar.

 

[RockMcL]

Rubs I've noticed but usually earlier in that thicket.