I just finished the fall yard cleanup yesterday and was bummed about some trees I lost.
Last summer, my 5 year old peach tree had mysteriously tipped to one side by itself. I thought it was because the weight of the fruit so I propped it up until harvest time, then forgot about it. Declared it unsalvageable yesterday as the trunk was loose in the ground.
When I dug it out, I found that all of the roots had been gnawed off on one side Almost like a beaver but about 3" underground.
On a trip around the yard I found a cider-crabapple and a medlar leaning to one side. This was new damage. The crabapple had roots eaten on one side the same as the peach. The medlar was chewed clean off right up to the trunk.
Found a small underground tunnel at the medlar about 2" in diameter.
I can't believe chipmunks are doing this. I had a chipmunk take out about half of my sweet potato patch this year and a whole row of carrots. Never heard of them eating tree roots though. Looking online, it also looks like it could be voles but I've never seen voles here.
Guess it's time to set the rat traps in covered pits near the other two crabapples and find out.
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