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Most trees and shrubs will need to be replaced after excessive bark loss due to hungry deer and rabbits over the winter. However, U of M Extension educator Gary Wyatt (above, in front holding a damaged tree branch) of Mankato suggests a “wait and see” attitude when it comes to replacing woody perennial plants. Wyatt led a seminar Wednesday afternoon, April 12, at the Rock County Courthouse commissioners’ room with a tour of actual damage at the food forest on North Blue Mound Avenue. He said this past winter’s heavy snow cover prompted many animals to seek trees as food, the worst he has seen in his many decades working in forestry. He suggested waiting before removing the weedy plants to see if only the surface bark layer was damaged and not the underlying nutrient-carrying layer, which may mean the plant can recover. The seminar was sponsored by the Rock County Master Gardeners and the Rock County Soil and Water Conservation District.