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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:02:37 PM EDT
This is a cabin I helped my dad rebuild, you can see the wood rafters under the tin is being eaten and/or clawed at by something. There are wood shavings on the ground underneath them so I think it’s some kind of animal and not a bug. Any ideas?
I have seen tiny bats under the roof before my only other guess would be squirrels maybe? Cabin:  Rafter #1:   Will try to get pictures of the other rafter soon. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:03:52 PM EDT
[#1]
Woodpecker.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:04:13 PM EDT
[#2]
Termites
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:04:55 PM EDT
[#3]
Guessing wood bees
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:05:45 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Termites |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:06:18 PM EDT
[#5]
3/8 inch holes? Carpenter bees...hell spawn.
Eta: looking closer at your pics, maybe a combo of bugs like the above posters mention |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:06:33 PM EDT
[#6]
The bigger splinters make me think woodpecker as a opposed to termites or bees (which the woodpecker is going after).
Treat for insects. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:07:18 PM EDT
[#7]
You have termites (that cross beam is probably at 20% the strength it should be) and woodpeckers or varmints going after them.
This picture shows termite tunnels. When the wood is torn away it's usually animals going after the termites. 
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:07:45 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted: 3/8 inch holes? Carpenter bees...hell spawn. I'm very familiar with carpenter bees unfortunately and that's definitely not it. No drilled holes anywhere, they were hell on the barn and tractor shed until we started putting out the traps. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:08:21 PM EDT
[#9]
Sounds like a good excuse to stay there, shooting whatever shows up to eat on it. Pike your victims to deter their kind!
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:10:14 PM EDT
[#10]
Termites and woodpeckers looking for termites?
Looks like evidence of tunneling in the wood. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:13:25 PM EDT
[#11]
My vote is squirrels. Looks a lot like the damage they inflicted on my shop.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:13:52 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Termites and woodpeckers looking for termites? Looks like evidence of tunneling in the wood. This. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:15:50 PM EDT
[#13]
More pictures of the other rafter:
     
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:17:44 PM EDT
[#14]
I was really hoping it wasn't termites.
 
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:20:08 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryYep. Squirrels. Notice the claw marks in the first pic. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:20:36 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistorySquirrels |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:21:42 PM EDT
[#17]
I think it’s wood boring beetles doing the small holes and something else like coons trying to get the beetles.
I believe they call them puff beetles. Destroyed my moms cabin floor joists. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:24:32 PM EDT
[#18]
I’d rather it be termites in the rafters and not in the original walls at least. I haven’t seen any damage in them.
 
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:24:52 PM EDT
[#19]
I'm guessing squirrels chipmunk or mice. I see tiny claw marks. No actual boring into the wood, all surface indents.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:25:38 PM EDT
[#20]
Run a paddle bit into it. If there are termites you will notice that the resistance stops and powder comes out.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:26:18 PM EDT
[#21]
How is the deck? That seems like where termites would show up first.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:32:09 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: How is the deck? That seems like where termites would show up first. No noticeable damage but I haven’t crawled underneath it yet. My dad had brain surgery a few weeks ago and is super freaked out about everything now. I just told my mom to call the bug man and go ahead and get it treated like yesterday. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:33:26 PM EDT
[#23]
Cats. they are using your rafters for scratching posts.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:33:36 PM EDT
[#24]
Looks like from a cat sharpening it's claws. Do you have a ceiling cat?
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:35:20 PM EDT
[#25]
I didn’t even notice the claw marks! Thanks guys. Squirrels have never damaged any of the other structures that all have exposed would like this - barn and two tractor sheds - so I didn’t know what I was looking for with this.
There is probably a significant coon population too as it’s been a while since I’ve trapped and killed them. Guess I’ll need to start putting the live traps and coon cuffs out again. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:37:10 PM EDT
[#26]
Quoted: Cats. they are using your rafters for scratching posts. Quoted: Looks like from a cat sharpening it's claws. Do you have a ceiling cat? Yeah there's a couple cats they keep around for keeping mice out of the hay in the hay loft.  Would they hang from underneath and claw like that? |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:43:15 PM EDT
[#27]
Aye Aye? or squirrels
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:50:38 PM EDT
[#28]
Most likely from some type of bee or wasp that uses the fibers for a nest. Definitely not carpenter bees. Just had to deal with those myself this past summer. Carpenter bees will make perfect 3/8 - 1/2" holes to access a new nest. There is another type of bee or wasp (can't remember the name) that will leave "scratch" marks just like OP is dealing with. They are pulling away fibers to bring to their nest, wherever it might be.
Not a cat, squirrel, or other furry critter. Doesn't look like termite damage to me either. Termites go deeper and will make the wood look like a sponge. I want to say they also typically start at the ground and not the ceiling. ETA: Nice little cabin! I'd spend my time there for sure! |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:53:22 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Termites and woodpeckers looking for termites? Looks like evidence of tunneling in the wood. Definitely this |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:55:53 PM EDT
[#30]
Squirrels.
Those rafters may have been in a smoke house where hams were smoked. The squirrels are eating the salt absorbed in the wood. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:56:43 PM EDT
[#31]
Awesome cabin. My guess is squirrels. They chewed the heck out of the porch roof joists at one of my properties until I enclosed the ceiling with vinyl and they could no longer get to them.
How about setting up a trail camera to see? |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:58:27 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Squirrels. Those rafters may have been in a smoke house where hams were smoked. The squirrels are eating the salt absorbed in the wood. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 12:59:12 PM EDT
[#33]
Beautiful cabin.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:01:07 PM EDT
[#34]
Tree Rats. (squirrels) kill them.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:02:39 PM EDT
[#35]
Looks like gnawing. Probably a squirrel. You can measure the gap between the teeth marks and determine which rodent it is. Also check see if flying squirrels are in your ao.
Definitely not Termites. It has had powder post beetles in the past (the small pin holes) but that's not an issue at this point. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:05:30 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Yep. Squirrels. Notice the claw marks in the first pic. ^THIS |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:06:37 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted: LOL... dang, that's a stretch IMO! Happened to my best friend's cabin. Logs were numbered when disassembled and reassembled. He knew exactly where that log came from. They would chew on no other logs in the entire house. Just the one from the smokehouse. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:07:43 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I think it’s wood boring beetles doing the small holes and something else like coons trying to get the beetles. I believe they call them puff beetles. Destroyed my moms cabin floor joists. Raccoons are not hanging onto rafters in that area to get at bugs. Squirrels is my guess. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:10:12 PM EDT
[#39]
A squirrel is most likely destroying the outside of the beams. The holes look a lot like powderpost beatles.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:18:56 PM EDT
[#40]
Tree rats. Kill them all
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:22:43 PM EDT
[#41]
Well. Now you get to squirrel hunt.
GF guessed squirrel as well. I’ve seen them sharpen their teeth on holes in bluebird boxes. But never anything like this! |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:26:39 PM EDT
[#42]
No help, but I love that cabin.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:30:23 PM EDT
[#43]
Quoted: Awesome cabin. Quoted: Beautiful cabin. Quoted: No help, but I love that cabin. Thanks! I enjoy sitting out there a lot. Back porch: 
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:31:34 PM EDT
[#44]
Best thing to trap squirrels with? I've trapped a thousand coons with marsmallows and tuna fish but never had to trap squirrels before.
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:38:18 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Well. Now you get to squirrel hunt. GF guessed squirrel as well. I’ve seen them sharpen their teeth on holes in bluebird boxes. But never anything like this! I hope my fiancé has a recipe for squirrel stew 
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:39:24 PM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I hope my fiancé has a recipe for squirrel stew They don’t taste good. Trapping them is difficult since they’re smart. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:45:31 PM EDT
[#47]
That's a really neat cabin.
I agree, squirrels. |
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:46:55 PM EDT
[#48]
Has anyone been doing yoga in that house?
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:50:37 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted: They don’t taste good. Trapping them is difficult since they’re smart. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: I hope my fiancé has a recipe for squirrel stew They don’t taste good. Trapping them is difficult since they’re smart. I thought coons were difficult too until I figured out what they couldn't resist. 
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Posted: 9/25/2023 1:51:47 PM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Has anyone been doing yoga in that house? If by yoga you mean drinking and listening to music then yes
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