In the last decade the populations of large game as moose and red deer have increased in Latvia, and the risk of damage to for - est stands has increased simultaneously. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of bark stripping wounds, decay incidence and associated fungi in 30-year-old Picea abies stems damaged by big game. In total, 90 trees were evaluated and 157 bark stripping wounds of different age (1-10 years) were measured. From each wound margin one wood sample was collected for evaluation of presence of decay and subsequent fungal isolation. Decay was found in 13-50% of investigated wounded P. abies trees depending on study site (mean 26.7%). All injuries were open wounds. Area of exposed sapwood was 7 – 6142 cm2 . The most commonly iso - lated fungi were ascomycetes Neonectria fuckeliana, Sarea difformis and Phialocephala sp., and basidiomycetes Cylindrobasidium evolvens and Amylostereum areolatum.
Key words: Picea abies, bark stripping, decay fungi.