Gnawed!

[wch]

Something is gnawing a step riser at my home; the damage is about 8 inches above ground level.
I suspect it's a rabbit: any ideas as to what it might be?

[square butte]

What part of the country do you live in , and what's above ground this time of year where you live? Around here, it's woodchucks - But they are below ground in winter

[ascast]

porcupine? game cam? make some mud, get foot prints

[Rapier]

If on the side of a hill or rise, top of a terrace, could be any of the ground dwellers. Our farm has terraces to preven errosion of the hills and just about everything digs borrows on the terrace tops or elevated sides. This area, it is foxes, coyotes, armadillos, land tortoises, skunks, etc. I bury them with the tractor then they dig them back out, we have an understanding, they dig, I bury.

[lancem]

Mix a little dish soap, water, and ground red pepper in a spray bottle and hit the area well. should stop the chewing.

[MaryB]

If you live in a forested area porcupine... doubt it is rabbit, they like tree bark, not tree wood... could be a neighbors dog too...

[dverna]

I have that issue with porcupines.

[wch]

Thanks to all, I think a game camera's the right idea.
I live in Central PA, we have rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, foxes and miscellaneous furbearers in the neighvorhood.

[redhawk0]

My bet is porcupines. I've seen many of them when hunting the deer woods of PA. Destructive little buggers...they'll chew on wires too.

Put a few splashes of Tabasco on the wood...see if that deters them....it wouldn't me...but...I don't eat steps either.

[Shawlerbrook]

Yep, first guess would be porcupine followed by a squirrel.

[JoeG52]

I would guess porcupine. They love chewing wood.

[elmacgyver0]

Squirrels love to chew up things, they chewed holes in the bottom of my Coleman canoe.
They also chewed my garbage cart, recycling cart, air conditioner evaporator base and house siding.
My neighbors feed the darn things and I shoot them.
The squirrels, not my neighbors.
If I were to make a bet, it would be on squirrels.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

All rodents have to chew to keep their teeth from growing. I saw a picture of one whose lower insisor had grown through his upper jaw.

[compass will]

A pet dog will do that also.

[Walla2]

I had the same issue. Turned out to be a barn cat sharpening its claws. A little pepper solution as above cured the sharpening.

[gwpercle]

A Rabbit will leave "Rabbit Pellet" droppings on the steps and or porch ...
You know what Rabbit droppings look like ... if not do a google search .

Might be Porcupines ... they gnaw wood and the height sounds right .
No porcupines in Louisiana ... I don't know what they poop on or how it looks ... Google that too .
Gary

[gwpercle]

I had the same issue. Turned out to be a barn cat sharpening its claws. A little pepper solution as above cured the sharpening.

Just how big was this Barn Cat !!!
Gary

[waksupi]

Just how big was this Barn Cat !!!
Gary

Some years ago, I had a mountain lion that would scratch the side of my entry way every time he made his circuit. Every 21 days like clock work.

[Walla2]

She could easily reach up 8 inches. A normal sized cat. Just reached up.

[contender1]

I work in "animal damage control."

Porcupines & groundhogs are my first 2 suspects in your area. Groundhogs in your area are not totally hibernating animal.

As noted,, an inexpensive game camera will give you the correct answer.

Often,, wood has preservatives in it that an animal smells or seeks. Older wood,, especially pressure treated wood that was done with salt,, is often a target for many animals.

I usually suggest a homeowner get at least (2) inexpensive game cameras,, and set them to where they can both cover AND overlap the potential viewing area. The cameras w/o many fancy features like wi-fi or other stuff. Simple, IR types,, with a shutter speed of 1/2 second or less. I like ones that take a picture and a short video.