Animals leave telltale signs on tree trunks

It is never easy to see wild animals in the forest because most of them are shy. Sometimes, the animals are cleverly camouflaged.

However, we can guess what kinds of animals are around the forest by taking a close look at the signs on tree trunks.

Badgers and rodents make use of trees to clean their paws and usually leave claw marks and mud at the tree's base.

Rabbits like chewing around tree trunks to sharpen their teeth. They leave a complete circle around the trunk.

Deer like to tear off strips of bark from trees as their emergency food source and leave high thin marks on the bark.

Squirrels are active forest dwellers. They not only tear tree bark but also eat the sap from the centre. Torn bark hanging from branches is evidence showing squirrels have climbed up the tree to feed.