Name the vermin...

[mantis]

Planted this B. emeiensis on Sunday. Went to water it today, and found this...

There appeared to be rabbit poop all over the ground, but it is too high to be rabbit damage. I guess it could be deer, as they've destroyed a bunch of other trees I've planted (rubbing damage).

[David]

Rabbit cut a sharp angled cut with their opposing incisors usually below about 12". Deer have no upper teeth in the front and tear off what they eat and leave a ragged edge. Rabbit poop and a small deer have almost indistinguishable poop except perhaps to a poopologist. Deer are curious and will take a bite of almost anything new in their surroundings. I'm going with deer or perhaps a hungry child.

[mantis]

Thanks for the reply. We've had bamboo in the ground at the farm for about a year, and this was the first damage we've seen. Hopefully the deer won't develop a taste for new shoots, and will leave them alone in the future.

[Alan_L]

Which is worse, having them eat shoots, or having them bite the young culms off like they did? Hopefully you don't find out.

[Matt in TN]

A good poopologist is hard to find!