Tree Scars

Today, I was reading an article that said that a tree scar like the one shown here is definitely a sign that alligators are in the vicinity. Well, that piqued my curiosity! The picture in the article was almost identical to this one that I took in my front yard. While I am not denying that there are alligators in the Bayou here, I was perplexed by the thought that any 'gator was causing the tree scars. Reading further into the story, I found that the 'gators were not chewing the bark of the unfortunate trees but rather this author is professing that Nutria were the culprits. Nutria are large rat-like critters that are native to South America and were introduced to the United States in the 1930s or so for "fur-farming". The farming did not catch on as a lucrative business but the Nutrias rather enjoyed the living here and decided to stay. The remark about the alligators was purely there because they are one of the few natural predators of the Nutria. The writer stated that where there are Nutria there are surely alligators. Sensationalism! Aha! While I am relieved that the alligators have not taken to eating trees, I would have to argue this whole idea of Nutrias eating them! Sure, they are vegetarians and they do a lot of damage to the roots of the marsh grass but to eat my trees?? Sure, I have too many Nutrias in the Bayou to count, but to say they rip the bark from an oak?? I have never heard of such a thing! To be truthful, I know for a fact that placing the blame of the tree scars in my yard on a poor unwitting rat is ridiculous. No animal chewed the bark on these trees unless you consider a hurricane an animal. I will admit that some hurricanes can be beastly, though! The scars on so many of the trees in the yard were left by debris that was washed or blown in with a storm. Debris as large as the trailer part of a semi truck banged, smashed and careened its way through the trees in my yard during Hurricane Katrina. Almost every tree, bush, and plant in the entire yard was skinned and bruised by these collisions. So, I will not blame the hapless Nutria for the damage done, unless of course someone can prove to me that these semi-aquatic mammals can climb tall trees while gnawing! The second picture was taken of a tree scar that is approximately twenty feet high. (Yes..the tidal surge of Katrina did get that high in my yard.) The sad part is that not all trees survived. About half the trees on my place perished during the storm and we are still losing them even yet. The damaged areas left the tree trunks vulnerable to wood-boring beetles and Carpenter Ants. Since the storm, maybe ten trees per year have died or have become so diseased that they had to be removed. This makes me sad as I relish a shady yard during the summer heat. I have tried to compensate for this loss by replanting although trees take many years to reach the maturity of so many that were lost. As a fast growing replacement, I have been planting fruit trees of all sorts. Hopefully, they will withstand any future storms. And hopefully, even though they do some damage to the marsh, the Nutrias can live on happily in the Bayou. (And hopefully, the alligators will keep the Nutrias in control.) Natural predation!

This evening brought another round of thunderstorms to the Bayou, making my usual trek to the pier nonexistent. As we sat listening to the clang and bang of the thunder, Ezzy and I could only dream of what exciting adventures we might have had if the weather had only been clear. She looked absolutely bored as she flopped down on her rug by the front door. Poor Ezzy..I promise that we shall go out at first light!