Q: I have a critter ripping, shredding and eating up my sugar maples. It’s becoming a big problem.

A: Wow- impressive!

I think it’s squirrels looking for water and/or something to eat. The base of a tree around the trunk/root flare has quite a concentration of sugars and salts.

I see it occurring higher in trees in spring when sapsuckers peck tree trunks to drink sap.

See Squirrel Damage – On Maple.

My advice is to get some Hot Pepper Wax and spray on the roots of affected trees.