Pests

Hi Folks, could anyone please tell me what is eating my Shrub ? I have about 6 shrubs that have what looks like teeth marks on the stems.

 

A close up shot of the damage would help please.

 

Second guess :voles!!

 

Thanks for the replies and sorry for the delay in putting up new pics. Hope these are a bit clearer.

Thanks in advance.

 

Might be worth having a ferret (sorry ) in the mulch to see whether there are rabbit droppings, which are quite distinctive? In the absence of bunny doo-doo's that narrows it down to deer or voles....Deer leave equally distinctive two-clawed hoofprints in the soil.

 

It's a mystery. I checked for droppings and I'm convinced no deer are getting in as I've not seen any hoofprints at the only possible place they could get in and that would be to jump a 5ft gate. Nightwatchman is required me thinks

 

I haven't had issues with voles but deer will create that sort of damage.

What is the shrub please Mick?