What’s Gnawing My Pine Tree? Identifying Southern Pine Beetle Damage

Finding a tall pine with what looks like beaver-chewed bark 10–15 feet up the trunk is alarming, but the culprit is usually much smaller: the Southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis).

These tiny beetles tunnel en masse beneath the bark, cutting off the tree’s vascular system. The bark eventually loosens and sloughs off, leaving the characteristic “gnawed” appearance high on the trunk—far higher than any beaver could reach. By the time you see the damage, the tree is already dead.

If the snag threatens structures or high-traffic areas, have it removed professionally. If it stands in a safe spot, consider leaving it; the cavities become valuable nesting sites for woodpeckers, owls, and other cavity-nesting birds.