Hello Bennet,

Thank you for your question. White pine, (Pinus strobus), Michigan’s state tree is a beautiful tree but is susceptible to several diseases and insect attacks, including white pine blister rust, white pine weevil, bark beetles among others. Read more here: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285004&isprofile=1&basic=Pinus%20strobus

However, the damage that your tree has suffered was probably caused by destructive little red squirrels. In winter when food is scarce, hungry squirrels eat the buds of pines and spruce trees. In doing so, they prune the branch first, dropping them to the ground. Read more about it here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/red_squirrel_injury_to_spruce_trees_in_winter

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to control squirrels or deter them from living in trees. Although, you could spray an animal repellent but with a such a large tree, it seems impractical.

This damage will probably not harm the tree. If you can reach the area in question, you could prune off the broken branches and reshape the tree. You can clean up the branches under the tree and hope that next year, the squirrels won’t be so hungry.

You can also contact a certified arborist for another opinion at www.treesaregood.org , the website of the International Society of Arboriculture to find a certified arborist in your area.

Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.