What Made This?

Joe2Kool · Tuesday at 2:33 PM

Came across this on my TN ATV ride this weekend. Whitetail, elk, pigs, and bear in the area. A little early for WT to be rubbing. Seeing elk rubs, but never seen one like this. Bear scratching was my first thought, but must be a lazy bear as it's not very high.

Could be human, but it's a dead end trail with no evidence of recent riders.

coloradoman · Tuesday at 2:53 PM

I’ve seen porcupines do that. Do you have any around?

woodturner · Tuesday at 4:32 PM

I am with "coloradoman".......porcupines will peel off the bark to eat the cambium layer.

yoteduster · Tuesday at 4:33 PM

coloradoman said:
I’ve seen porcupines do that. Do you have any around?

That would be my first guess

Gunnihunter · Tuesday at 4:40 PM

Ditto to porcupine

Joe2Kool · Tuesday at 5:50 PM

Never seen a porcupine around here. And never seen one on trail cameras, and I've got a bunch of them around. A google search said TN was one of a handful of states that don't have them.

However, armadillos have been moving east across TN. I've seen some less than 50 miles from this spot, and there are confirmed reports of them in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Do they do this? Haven't seen any on my cameras tho.

Got me thinking...beavers in the area, but no ponds or year-round running water within a mile.

eelgrass · Tuesday at 5:54 PM

It could be porcupines but that looks like black bear damage to me. They strip the bark in the Spring time for the sap and kill lots of trees here on the west coast. Even Redwood trees.

sticksender · Tuesday at 5:59 PM

Bring in a metal detector and check nearby for buried treasure.

elkassassin · Tuesday at 7:01 PM

It Wasn't A Beaver!

Joe2Kool said:
Never seen a porcupine around here. And never seen one on trail cameras, and I've got a bunch of them around. A google search said TN was one of a handful of states that don't have them.

However, armadillos have been moving east across TN. I've seen some less than 50 miles from this spot, and there are confirmed reports of them in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Do they do this? Haven't seen any on my cameras tho.

Got me thinking...beavers in the area, but no ponds or year-round running water within a mile.

grosventrehunter · Tuesday at 7:17 PM

Do you fall a lot?

Castnshoot · Tuesday at 8:22 PM

The straight line at the top of the scare would indicate that it is man made.

Ax?

joesikora · Tuesday at 11:20 PM

Found these pics under porcupine tree damage

View attachment 155692

Mallardsx2 · 2024-08-28T04:30:25-0600

Q-pine!!!!

Joe2Kool · 2024-08-28T18:44:37-0600

grosventrehunter said:
Do you fall a lot?

That took me a minute to figure out what you were saying. No. Don't usually fall. But I use it as a battering ram as I ride thru overgrown trails!

Seriously, trails in this area can be rocky and rutted, so I always wear a helmet. And with all the overhanging briars and limbs, I wear the safety glasses also.

Regarding human markings, I thought that also. But the trail didn't seem used in a while. Didn't see any boot prints in any of the mud. And the only ATV tracks were mine from a few weeks ago.