With gouges and large holes, the trees are more susceptible to decay and disease.

NPR: Sticky-Fingered Thieves Target Sap In Maine

The objects, including axe heads, chisels, sickles, gouges, spearheads, daggers and swords, are due to be moved to the British Museum for assessment.

BBC: Bronze Age hoard found in Wiltshire field

Deep gouges show how fearsome those paws can be - even if the bear in the clearing is currently using his to tear into a Victoria sponge.

BBC: Qu��bec's wood runners

They're also using PVC piping that gouges the trees, and putting four taps in trees that should have only two, thereby creating undue stress on the trees.

NPR: Sticky-Fingered Thieves Target Sap In Maine