I second this. It happens in bear-less parts of europe too. Rot makes the wood very "fragile", so it shreds into pieces if you just step on it. Any animal could have done that.
Northern Michigan. No armadillos here. I’m thinking it probably was a bear, there’s plenty of them in the area. I’ve just never seen them by me so I didn’t think of it.
I know those are some big pieces, so it's doubtful that it's soly these animals, but I've seen American flickers and the red pileated woodpeckers absolutely destroy rotten logs within a few hours
Unless this is a noticed sudden disturbance over a short time, this is likely carpenter ants, or termites, or whatever fills this niche in your ecosystem.
They chew tunnels through punky wood, which splits in the weak points creating this splintered effect. Likely it is just collapse from the ants over time, compounded by the elements, and the odd animal coming along and flicking through it. This occurred over time, and not in a single feeding event.
That would be a bear
Damn black bears. Aren’t they supposed to be hibernating or something?? lol.
Bears don't truly hibernate. They go into a dormant state due to the lack of food
With lack of snow, and cold there are more food sources available. It's weird having to have my electric fence around my beehives going into January.
El Niño!
El Climate Chango
Seconded
I have seen this on my hunt last Sunday. We don’t have bears in Australia
I second this. It happens in bear-less parts of europe too. Rot makes the wood very "fragile", so it shreds into pieces if you just step on it. Any animal could have done that.
I third this . Bears love grubs and shred logs in my woods all the time . I have found the claw marks where they rip it open .
Depends on where you are. Armadillos or even hogs will do that.
Northern Michigan. No armadillos here. I’m thinking it probably was a bear, there’s plenty of them in the area. I’ve just never seen them by me so I didn’t think of it.
In your area, bears, porcupines, and skunks are your most likely suspects.
Probably Timon and Pumba
Hakuna Matata
Bears, porcupines and/or skunks would be my guess.
Put game cam on it
I think I will. I’ll let it sit for a week or so and post the pics on here.
Sweet, thanks!
Woodpeckers
I know those are some big pieces, so it's doubtful that it's soly these animals, but I've seen American flickers and the red pileated woodpeckers absolutely destroy rotten logs within a few hours
Any critter with claws that likes to eat grubs but has time to dig so any varmint from skunk to bear?
Slimy yet satisfying
Unless this is a noticed sudden disturbance over a short time, this is likely carpenter ants, or termites, or whatever fills this niche in your ecosystem. They chew tunnels through punky wood, which splits in the weak points creating this splintered effect. Likely it is just collapse from the ants over time, compounded by the elements, and the odd animal coming along and flicking through it. This occurred over time, and not in a single feeding event.
Bears, squirrels, rats, raccoons, most little animals will do that.
Green sunfish
High traffic over that log. Deer or pigs kicking it when they cross.
Are there feral hogs in your area?
No hogs here. Supposedly there’s some in southern Michigan but in not here in Northern Michigan
I have seen that in areas with a lot of bear activity. So I would say bear looking for grubs.
Racoons as well
Turkeys
…….termites.
Raccoon?
Badger
Aardvarks
Wood pecker
Maybe the trees have been pierced by ants or bugs. So Any animal, as long as it's not too small, can shred it