Question
QUESTION: I would kindly like to know if you know of any reason why my palm branches are breaking off.  It seems as if something is eating it, but I haven't caught anything eating it.  There seem to be something appearing to be bite marks.  It's only affecting the two trees on one side of the yard right now but then a tree on the other side had a branch break off today.  I live in Hawaii.  Help!

ANSWER: Hi Kristen, are the fronds being snapped off, or chewed, and what kind of palms are they? it is normal for lower fronds to break off at the petiole (part holding the frond to the trunk) due to age, but to be bitten off? I have to say this is the first time I have ever heard of this phenomenon; follow up and in the mean time, I will research this.....regards Nick

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

QUESTION: Someone out here told me that it might be rats, so we're going to try and get the rats with bait.  It looks like they're chewed.  What do you think?  The branches snap off in all sorts of places.

Answer
I spoke with my local Cooperative Extension Service Agent, and he never heard of this happening here in Florida, initially he said, Deer occasionally will nibble fronds, but that could not be the case in Hawaii; check with your local agent and I am betting he will be able to nail it down for you, they are a County service that are there to assist in just this type of problem. Nick