what has happened here?

owd potter

Recently relocated a Bugbane to what I thought would be a better spot for it.
Whilst doing a spot of Autumn clearing this week I found that most of the leaf stems were lying on the soil surface and seem to have been sheared off at ground level.
Can anyone offer any suggestions on cause?  
Owd

Hostafan1

mice?

Fairygirl

Rabbits? Deer? 
Not experienced that with mine, but I don't have either of the above in this garden.

owd potter

Thanks both,
Looks to me also that something has chewed them through
I definitely do not have deer, and have not seen rabbits about but I do occasionally find strange holes appearing around the garden, so who knows.
Strange that the foliage has not been eaten tho, just sheared off?
I was thinking maybe vine weevil or something else below ground?

Fairygirl

No - that's not vine weevil damage. They don't touch mine, but in any case, the plant would keel over, not be sheared.
Interesting @Hostafan1- I have mice, but I wouldn't have thought they would munch through those stems. They're very tough and woody. 

Helix

Small holes?  Then most likely is voles...little buggers they are.  And they like roots best, so what’s left below ground?

We are infested with mole crickets, which shear things off at ground level exacty like that.  But they are rare - luckily as they are evil.  They can fly, tunnel and swim, and move so fast it’s hard to squash them.  They also look very nasty and the first time I saw one it scared the life out of me.

vic535

What condition is the ground, is it very wet and soggy or fairly dry. With the excessive rainfall recently the plant could have just rotted!

Dovefromabove

Any chance it could be deer?