whats eating my fence?

[DuneAHH]

I've been reading about nocturnal omnivores that like bee larvae, such as black bears, skunks, raccoons, etc. Are you able to discern claw versus teeth marks (and size) in the surrounding wood? Any evidence of scat or paw prints on the ground? I can't tell from the pictures.

 

[PAbeachlover]

Don't know if you have porcupines down south, but we had one chew the entire bottom off a shed that was sided with T-111. Something in the glue I think.

 

[Matt J]

PT isn't a guarantee especially in an exterior fence. I'm going with woodpeckers after a meal.

 

[wesman70]

Additional Pics bring more questions

Surrounding the Obvious marks, am I seeing what kind of looks like buckshot holes in the wood? If so, it's not carpenter bees, its Powder Post beetles...I sincerely hope that's not the case....

Also, do you see anything that looks kind of like a paper mache' (sp) gob or nest?

Looks like something is definitely trying to get after a bug in these pics...

 

[wesman70]

Ok... I'm going to seem like a real "know it all", but I am surprised and excited that I remember all of this so I am gonna share it anyway. Really am a humble dude.

Types of wood destroying insects native to the South:
1) Carpenter ants: do not eat wood, but will bore it out for nesting.
2)Powder Post beetles: cannot member if they eat or just live in the wood.
3)Carpenter Bees: Bore and nest.
4) Formosan Termites: Typically earth dwellers, but do build nests above ground. Can Eat 200-400lbs per wood a year. Found typically in the coastal Gulf of mexico.
5) Eastern Subterranean Termite: Cannot survive in exposed sunlight feed on all forms of cellulose: Eat 20-40 lbs of wood per year.

 

[Minnie]

I would agree with Skunky. Carpenter bee larvae being eaten by woodpeckers.

MBG Integrated Pest Management

 

[Teresa Cline]

I've been reading about nocturnal omnivores that like bee larvae, such as black bears, skunks, raccoons, etc. Are you able to discern claw versus teeth marks (and size) in the surrounding wood? Any evidence of scat or paw prints on the ground? I can't tell from the pictures.

I didnt think to look for any excrement or paw prints...will look again.
something is really gnawing the boards down but I see no teeth/claw marks. Looks like the wood is scraped or just chewed away.

 

[Teresa Cline]

the vermin picked out the most difficult board to replace in this style of fence as the verticle 1x2's are glued to it!

 

[scooterbug44]

I defer to the experts, but in my experience woodpeckers leave more uneven surfaces and scattered holes - like pecky cypress - not scraped like that.

 

[Teresa Cline]

I defer to the experts, but in my experience woodpeckers leave more uneven surfaces and scattered holes - like pecky cypress - not scraped like that.

yeah...that's what I am thinking...I mean I am home 24/7 and its mostly quiet in my house/studio and surely I would hear a wood pecker. and I would think 4 dogs would notice something chewing on their fence so it must be happening in the evening...which means what...Raccoon?
Bear? (yikes) what else would climb the fence and chew the crap out of a board for a little morsel of larvae? Squirrels are not nocturnal...are they?