Question about animal scratches/marks on a tree.

[2gr8dgs]

So a family friend want's to know if these might be cougar scratches on his property. These were taken today. there were 2 other places on the property that had similar marks on trees. He has came across a partially eaten deer on the property. there has been a cat sighted by at least 2 people in the area. Farmland in the center of the Willamette valley.

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[cigars]

What's my ex-wife doing out there?

 

[The Heretic]

deer

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Those look like deer rubs to my eye....
Andy

 

[Member 34319]

deer

This.

Rubbing antlers on tree.

 

[2gr8dgs]

yeah I wondered that, but,haven't they all shed by now? Isn't it a little early to be rubbing off velvet?

 

[Andy54Hawken]

When the antlers first start to grow...the deer will sometimes rub on trees....I suppose its a like a "itchy" spot for them...
Andy

 

[The Heretic]

yeah I wondered that, but,haven't they all shed by now? Isn't it a little early to be rubbing off velvet?

They shed their antlers by late March - so they may have been trying to knock them off?

 

[2gr8dgs]

I agreed, it looks like most deer/elk rubs I ever saw, I guess its the timing that makes me consider the possibility of it being something else.

 

[The Heretic]

I have trees with rubs like that. It takes a while for the tree to heal, so it could have happened months ago.

 

[Stomper]

So a family friend want's to know if these might be cougar scratches on his property. These were taken today. there were 2 other places on the property that had similar marks on trees. He has came across a partially eaten deer on the property. there has been a cat sighted by at least 2 people in the area. Farmland in the center of the Willamette valley.

View attachment 680117 View attachment 680118 View attachment 680119

Notice the light stripes contrasted against the darker surface, how it looks like a stick or pipe was dragged up and down from the side.... that's from antlers. If it were a predator there'd be sharp furrows gouged into from claws.

 

[The Heretic]

But where deer are, there are usually coyotes, and possibly cougars.

I have deer, coyotes, bears and cougars on my property - all of these have been seen in the area.

 

[Slagiatt]

Deer rub. Probably months old

 

[Slagiatt]

Lions and bobs will scratch on stuff the way a domestic cat does. They dont just rip their claws down, peeling like that.

 

[Slagiatt]

Here is a log that a lion scratched up on my property, and a tcam pic of the culprit caught in the act.

 

[Slagiatt]

And here is a herd o bobcats scratching the same log.

 

[2gr8dgs]

I want to thank everyone for their insight. That's why I posted it. never to old to learn!

 

[turq]

Halfway down on the first pic...Seems like several hair strands. Long white look like deer.

 

[Member 5605]

Elk.

If an adult man took those photos, y'all are high thinking it's a little black tail. That's a clear Rooooosevelt elk run by the height alone. So me thr Blacktail, Muledeer or benchleg that made those rubs and I'll show ya Ed McMahon delivering a cheque to my house.

it looks old, the evergreens don't heal well in winter. You can also see the start of callous tissue on the right side of the rub. That is at least 2+ months of Oregon winter to develop that callous.

 

[Ura-Ki]

First, It's pretty high up for a cat, unless that cat was after a treed critter, I would say no, not a cat! I agree with the others, most likely deer, or maybe a juvi elk!
Even the rare Bear ( Not the Racing Plane, LOL) would have mostly just removed the bark, and not gone much deeper then what you have there!