Deer damage is a common problem in many parts of the country in the late summer and early fall. Deer cause these “rubs” when they are removing the velvet from their antlers after they stop growing and when they are in rut. During the rut they scrape the bark/cambium off the trunks of small trees as a visual signal and mark these spots with scent from glands on their heads. The damage to trees can be extensive with many of the branches broken off and complete girdling of the trunk tissue.
Bark tracing is an effective way to help the trees seal off the wound by removing the ragged edges and dead/dying tissues. With a sharp box knife (or chainsaw for larger thicker barked trees with other types of damage) cut through the bark and cambium around the wound down to the wood, being careful not to peel it off the trunk more. Creating clean edges and smooth rounded perimeter, encourages effective sealing callus tissue and woundwood.