I think some kind of animal got to it or kids have been peeling the bark, I love this tree is there any way I can heal it or save it? 🥺
The wound is pretty tall for a bridge graft but I can try doing one (idk if those would work on this kind of tree?) I don't know if those paint on pruning sealants are harmful but that was going to be my first option.
There are earwigs in the peeling area of the wound 😟
The tree still looks healthy, it was struck by lightning a while ago and recovered from the huge vertical crack in the bark.
I think this was caused by a woodpecker or squirrel and got concerned because the damage is more horizontal. Google made it sound like that earwigs were a sign that it was a goner, but hearing that your river birch survived all that makes me feel less worried now.
❤️🌳