Hello Susan:

Thank you for sending pictures. It's difficult to say whether your tree will survive or not, but at this point I would definitely not give up on it. There are a few steps you can take that may help to mitigate some of the damage that has been done. Tree wrap and/or paint is not recommended in this case.

First, it looks as if there are jagged edges around the damaged area, with strips of bark hanging. Take a sharp knife dipped in a 10% bleach solution and cut off all the rough remnants of bark. Then take a block of sandpaper and smooth the rough edges around the perimeter of the damaged area. This will decrease the opportunity for snow and/or rain to collect. Next spray the area with a fungicide that can be purchased from a garden center. Spray about 3-4 times per year.

If your tree is healthy enough to recover you will see the gradual growth of "wound wood" around the perimeter of the injury. This will take a few years (maybe as much as 5 years) as this recovery process is slow. The wound wood is the tree's attempt at healing over the area, not unlike scar tissue in humans.

You may notice some die back in the canopy of the tree on the same side as the wound. This would be a normal reaction to the injury because the nutrient carrying portion of the trunk has been damaged, but with a little care, the tree may be ok. Good luck!

Hello again,

An additional thought. Since this tree will be under stress from the injury, it will be necessary for it to receive adequate water, particularly during hot, dry spells in the summer.

What kind of animal do you think did this?
Susan

If you have deer in your neighborhood then they would be likely culprits. If you don't have deer, I would think other suspects might be raccoons or squirrels. These animals both like to strip bark from young trees and eat the green layer beneath the bark. Squirrels, however, generally prefer the smaller, more tender branches in the upper part of the tree. It's really anybody's guess.