Question
QUESTION: does the bark of the paper bark maple defoliate in late winter? the bark on the
main truck is smooth and i see all the paper bark at the base of the tree.  we
have neighborhood cats.  could that be a problem?  thank you ollie

ANSWER: This is normal. Paperbark maple has peeling, papery, cinnamon-
brown bark  and russet-red fall color as its main
ornamental traits. The bark begins peeling on 2 or
3 year old branches.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i know the bark is papery on the trunk but the bark on the trunk now is very
smooth and the papery material is on the ground at the base of the tree.  help?
is this typical or could it be cats.

Answer
This is normal. Under the peeling bark will be smooth. Actually the only the outer layer is peeling and the bark is smooth. Now it maybe possible that if a cat sharpened its claws on the peeling bark it might speed up the peeling but IF this happened you should see some claw marks on the smooth bark and the peeling would be only on the very bottom of the trunk where a cat could reach. BUT I would guess that what you are seeing is very normal for this tree species.