Black tar-like substance smeared round trees

[JandM]

There's no forestry section on this forum, so I'm posting this query in Gardening.

In the woods just beyond the boundary of our land (in Lot et Garonne) a number of trees have had the lower parts of their trunks smeared with a thick black substance. It looks like tar, and definitely has a smokey smell. It actually smells more like the fake barbecue stuff that flavoured foods get cooked in.

We think it's almost certainly something to do with the local hunt. The chasse will be slaughtering boar and deer in a few weeks, so perhaps it attracts the quarry? Anyone got any info?

[woolybanana]

Sounds like disease control in the trees to me.

[Tancrède]

[quote user="JandM"]It looks like tar, and definitely has a smokey smell. [/quote]This is Stockhom Tar  -  goudron de norvège.  The characteristic chimney-fire smell is unmistakable.  This has a vast number of uses, including being smeared on the lower parts of trunks of trees as an attractant for boar.

 

[JandM]

Interesting . Something to Google. Thanks.