Land managers who plant trees to improve habitat on their properties are often frustrated with tree damage due to mice and whitetails.
A tree tube will help prevent whitetail bucks from rubbing their antlers on the newly planted trees, but sometimes bucks will rub on the tubes themselves, which then causes damage to the tree. Also, mice and voles will build nests on the ground inside the tubes. These rodents will girdle trees by chewing away the bark and the nutrient-rich inner layer (phloem) around the base of the trunk, usually during winter under the cover of snow or tall grass. This damage stops the flow of water and food to the roots and can kill the tree.
In the 2-minute Facebook video below, land consultant Don Higgins of Higgins Outdoors shares a clever, simple and inexpensive way to prevent damage to newly planted trees. Watch and learn!
