The usual suspects would be Voles, Rabbits, Deer, Opossums, and maybe raccoons.

Nikki, you're on the list, but you'll have to remind me in a few years. My memory's not what it used to be. I make lists so I don't forget, then I can't remember where I put the list. Bill, we have 2 Kimos in the ground. One at our place and one at our Son's place. We live about 4-5 miles apart. The picture is of the one at our Son's back yard. The one at our place looks like Dave's picture (very beautiful Dave). I'm almost 100% certain that the one we planted at our Sons place is a cutting off of ours. With this crazy weather, I'm seeing big changes in coloration from month to month on the same trees. Dewaine

When hungry, rabbits will gnaw the bark of young tender trees. They love fruit trees such as apples. you reported the gnaw ring was 3 ft above the ground - think snow depth. If it is the work of a rabbit, the gnaw ring will be about 10 inches above the snow crust at the time of the gnaw. One winter, I lost 5 new fruit trees to rabbits. Rabbits prefer the thin bark of young trees to that of a mature trees with thick, dead bark scales. The damage usually occurs after snow has covered the bunny's food sources. I have experience with red squirrels, too. One harsh winter, red squirrels killed my lilacs. They stripped the bark off the limbs starting on the upper part of the twig and worked downward. I have never seen gray squirrels eat bark. They will nip the tips off evergreen trees. They like spruce and arbor-vitae. Porcupines will girdle evergreen trees especially pine. Beaver can bite deep enouth to eventually fall a tree. They prefer young tender decidious trees for food (up to 6 inch diameter), although they will take pine as well. However, given enough time, they can fall a mature tree. I live in a small town (population 10,000) with big cities nearby. I've been here 33 years without beavers, but 3 years ago, a pair moved into a small creek that drains the town and established a dam and beaver house behind a rental property. I discovered them when I noticed that group of small trees by a drainage ditch had been fallen. Froma distance, I though that vandals had been at work with hatchets, but on closer inspection, I saw it was the work of a beaver and that was confirmed when I discovered the beaver dam and two beaver huts. This was surprise. We do have beaver in remote areas. It is rare to see them take up housekeeping in an urban setting.

Marita40, the cubs are tucked under Mama - she keeps them warm by the heat of her body and also by her warm breath. Not sure where Hope is, but she also stays close to mama. If the babies get cold, they let out an amazing cry,so turn your sound up! Lily does get up and face the camera, chew her paw pads,rearrange her bedding, and play with Hope, but i suspect that her main interest will be keeping the new cubs warm and letting them nurse.