What is the characteristic physical sign on trees and shrubs indicating heavy white-tail browsing activity?
Answer
The browse line, often reaching about six feet in height
When white-tailed deer populations are heavy in an area, their highly selective foraging behavior creates a distinct visual marker on the vegetation known as the browse line. This line is visible where all palatable foliage has been stripped away from the lower reaches of trees and shrubs. Typically, this line corresponds to the deer's reach, often measuring around six feet in height, though it can be temporarily altered by deep snowpack. Furthermore, the method of removal itself is telling: deer use their dental pad to pinch and tear vegetation, leaving ragged edges on the remaining stems, distinguishing their feeding from the clean cuts made by other animals like rabbits.
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