'No way squirrels could gnaw through thick branches,' say experts after 750 Cornwall beech trees are felled

Rodent: Experts say it's highly-unlikely squirrels can gnaw through thick branches
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Saphora Smith6 January 2017

Animal experts have rubbished the claim made by road chiefs that squirrels gnawing at a row of beech trees in Cornwall was putting motorists at risk of being hit by falling branches.

Residents were left furious when up to 750 trees along a mile-long stretch of busy road in Cornwall were hacked down to 4ft stumps in early December.

Owners at Boconnoc Estate, a stately home near Lostwithiel in Cornwall, said Highways England asked them to cut back the trees amid concern that the gnawed branches were falling in front of drivers.

But experts said it was highly unlikely squirrels could gnaw through thick branches “like a beaver.”

The beech trees before they were chopped down
Google Street View

Roy Couch, an expert in rodents at JG pest control, said: “Squirrels could gnaw through smaller ones that cause no damage when they fall on the road, but could a squirrel chew through a thick main branch on a tree? It’s highly unlikely.

“It would take them months, so maybe as a one off but not along a whole line of trees.”

He added: “Grey squirrels tend to strip bark rather than chew through branches.

“It’s more likely the falling branches would be predominately caused by rot rather than squirrels.”

John Banks, a tree diagnostician at Bartlett Trees, agreed. He said “I wouldn’t expect squirrels to be able to gnaw through branches like a beaver.

“They may strip the bark drying out the wood so it becomes brittle, but I wouldn’t expect the severity to be so high that you have to chop the whole tree down.

He added: “Surely the squirrels are the problem not the tree, I don’t see the need to shoot the messenger. It could be avoided if they controlled the squirrels.

The estate confirmed that 1,200 metres of overgrown beech had been coppiced.

Richard Morris, a land agent with Savills, who provided a statement on behalf of Boconnoc, said: "The overgrown beech hedging along the Glynn Valley has become dangerous as a result of squirrel damage causing trees to drop branches onto the A38.

"At the request of the Highways Agency we have coppiced the trees, which will now be maintained as a high beech hedge in the future."

A spokesperson for the Highways Agency said: “Safety is our top priority and as such we have a responsibility to advise all third party owners of any trees or vegetation which present a safety risk to road users on our network.

"With overnight road closures in place for the recent A38 maintenance work, a window of opportunity arose and all landowners along the route were advised of any trees which required attention."

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