Tracking sign

[British Red]

We saw an interesting bit of sign that we don't see very often when out walking in the Fens today

Shredded tree by English Countrylife, on Flickr

This naturally fallen tree had been almost completely shredded. Would anyone care to guess the agent and the reason?

 

[nigelp]

Has badger ripped it open to get at insects or larvae inside?

A bird like a tree woodpecker might have a go looking for insects also - was the wood on the log scrapped or pecked?

How large was the log/damage?

 

[Broch]

That kind of damage is usually badger going after wood-boring grubs in our woods. Sometimes I can see claw marks in the wood but not when it's as soft as it appears in the photo.

 

[TeeDee]

For some reason I don't think its Badger.

 

[Broch]

You may be right but I have/had trail cam 'footage' of one creating a very similar mess

Having said that, even grey squirrels will dig into rotten wood to get at grubs.

In my experience, woodpeckers are much tidier in their activities.

 

[TeeDee]

You may be right but I have/had trail cam 'footage' of one creating a very similar mess

Having said that, even grey squirrels will dig into rotten wood to get at grubs.

In my experience, woodpeckers are much tidier in their activities.

I maybe wrong also.

 

[Broch]

Having said all that, and knowing BR's penchant for riddles, it's probably something completely different

 

[British Red]

Badger it is indeed. That particular area (I won't describe it too accurately for obvious reasons) has two large setts & a lot of downed wood. It's an invertebrate hot spot with lesser stag beetle and many other types. The badger do seem to treat the larvae as a purely Winter food resource. Their latrines in the area are a great insight into their seasonal foods & we often see what they've been eating

 

[Broch]

I feel sorry for people that just walk past such things without observing and questioning

 

[Kav]

Nice resource for kindling

 

[DocG]

Shame - was hoping for rare fen brown bear sign.

 

[British Red]

Shame - was hoping for rare fen brown bear sign.

Nah, we eat the bears

 

[British Red]

I feel sorry for people that just walk past such things without observing and questioning

I totally agree - so many people don't really "look" at what's around them. This is where we were going.

The Wash by English Countrylife, on Flickr

The picture is a 180 degree panorama. A beautiful sunny day, one of the rarest habitats in Europe, absolutely teeming with wildlife from seals to skylarks. Literally no-one there - of course you do actually have to walk there!