Hey, I have a brindle english mastiff as well :)

maybe deer? We had cattle get into ours once and they did some big damage! Apparently the stalks taste like banana. After we fixed the fence, every time I'd be cutting off any leaves they would run over to the fence and moo for the leaves.

Lisa --- I'd go with wild boar. The damage they did (low to the ground)at city hall here was amazing. One mama and several little ones were finally caught. They are real good at doing damage at night, silently, and disappearing before sunrise. Reinspect your fenceline again, carefully.

I'd try leaving the Jack Russell outside one night if he won't start barking his his way back into the house. If he's crate trained, put the crate on the porch, door open.

Remote camera is another way to go.

Have neighborhood bobcats, hence very little vermin problems. Also got several varieties of naner pups and newly excavated entire mats that I gotta get rid of.

Dan

It may be too late for this but I would certainly look for tracks. I do not live in an area with wild boar nor am I an expert on them, but I do not think this damage was caused by a boar. Boars are known to have great noses and are probably not to fond of dogs(especially big ones that could eat them). Also boars are known to be ravenous with their food, so I would expect them to eat the bananas as well. I would suspect that your dogs either used this as a chew toy or a bear possibly(A bear would probably eat the bananas too).

Honestly I really do not know but am highly intriqued.

Sorry rereading today I see that you looked for tracks. Did you ever find any leftovers of the tree other than the leaves and fruit?