File size of the pictures necessitates that I post these separately. Anyway, here is a close-up of one of the points at which a branch was torn off. Sorry that it is not more in focus.

Final picture shows at least seven branches torn off. Deer are a regular occurrence here. However, I've only seen them nibble and tear a little bit here and there on foliage that they've deemed inedible - for instance: saxifrage. I've not seen this type of damage before.

Yes, it's well a deer. I well know this problem.
Clement

Don't know where you are at, but in SE Iowa I started seeing evidence of buck damage (antler rubbing) this weekend.

They are incredibly destructive here. I'd do something to protect that larch. The buck will probably return.

Keith

Tree is frequently sold and planted form of weeping Japanese larch, which is usually offered under wrong species name.

Eventually realized - based on comments on this site - that similar damage to a true fir I planted was being done by rabbits.

This post was edited by bboy on Sun, Sep 1, 13 at 14:01

Thanks all. I'll put a fence around it to protect it. We have several sighting of bucks, does, and fawns in our front yard.

Keith, I'm in the Pacific Northwest.

My dog went nuts barking early this morning and woke us up. I bet he was barking at that deer. Nothing like a German Shepherd alarm clock.