Need help with my fruit trees,something is cutting limbs off.It almost looks like minature beaver cuttings.My trees are 3 years old and very healthy.I haven't found limbs on any thing but fruit trees cut,trees on rest of property are about 8 years old.Mostly seems to be on pear trees 4 to 5 foot off the ground and limb is found beside tree laying on the ground undamaged other than being cut off of tree.Thanks in advance for your help.

-- James Faber (Raskyfish@aol.com), October 26, 2000

Answers

We have deer eating on our pear trees. You didn't say what part of the country you are in. The deer are real thick here in Tennessee this year and eating everything in their path, including pears, and pear trees. Hope that helps

-- Dian Hoffman (rhoffman@nctc.com), October 26, 2000.

porcupine perhaps, again, depending on where you live. Beavers make a characteristic pointy end, so you might be able to recognise if that's what it is.Not unlikely. Control? Got me-dog,i guess or electric fence

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), October 27, 2000.

I had the same thing happen to my dwarf apple last year. Just stubs left where the branches used to be. It was the deer unfortunately. I mean, I know they have to eat too, but why couldn't they munch on the abundance of greens I had growing?!

-- Eric in TN (ems@nac.net), October 27, 2000.