Some of the pests can get all artsy-fartsy with their chompings....
Your last post...top picture...I wonder where that is? Looking at the fact there is absolutely no small trees (for eating), which explains why they ate the bark off the oak in the background. Not much nutrition in old bark.. Those guys are hungry.
Chewed down big trees in the winter is a very uncommon sight to see. Normally they will stick small branches in the mud below the ice for a winter food source.
Some of the pests can get all artsy-fartsy with their chompings....