I had a real bummer yesterday. I came home from work and checked on my figs. One tree had a major break on one of the trunks and another had a little tip broken. There was no other damage that I found on any othe trees and they are all in a row along this fence. When I came home the top of the trunk was snapped and hanging on the fence. I can't figure it out. My neighbors are very nice and I would think they would talk to me if my trees were a problem. It could have been kids, but it was only one tree that had major damage. I am wondering if squirels or some animal was trying to climb over the fence on the tree. It was a fairly thick branch though.

The tree is an unknown for now although I suspect it is the same as a tree I already have. There was one breba on that trunk i was watching to see what it would be now since the tree did not fruit last year. Now I will be waiting until the end of summer.

Is there anything special i should do for the tree? 

Sorry to see that. You could cut up the branch and pot up six potential new trees. The tragedy could eventually be a bonus. What variety is it?

For now it's unknown, but I'm pretty sure it's a Brunswick. I have to many cuttings going to start more. Plus if it is a Brunswick when it finally fruits I will get rid of it. 

You say "break on the trunk".  I see 6-7 new trees.

Life hands you lemons....

Looks like a sports injury to me, with the projectile coming from inside your yard! Was the broken tip in the same trajectory? Possibly from a rebound?

It also could have been a cat trying to get over the fence, or catch a bird/squirrel.

Graft something worthwhile onto the top.

Is the first picture what broke off laying there now ?
If so its not from the weight of squirels, bird nor wabbit from climbing over fence.
Something broke it other than animal.

No Martin, it was hanging on the tree attached by the bark and leaning on the fence. I pulled it off then decided to take the picture after. It looked like a clean snap. 

I'm quick to blame squirrels because no other pest animal has done more damage to my gardens than squirrels. Sorry for your loss. I understand how frustrating the setback is. You want to see what the tree bears so you can assess its value, as well. No doubt it will recover. Best wishes.

CSI Figs.

My guess is something was rapidly climbing a combination of the fence and tree to get to the other side. And the weight of it's body was mainly on the tree as it hit the top of the fence, snapping the stem off right at fence level. Either a squirrel or cat.

saw a tree rat checking out my figs.. then running away when it saw me.. but birds did more damage to mine. they peck on it and leave ugly hole on the figs, and don't even finish it.

pete

Thanks guys, I'm sure it will be ok. I guess better now then if it has figs on it later in summer. 

I can rule out kids or adult doing mischief. If that's the case then the damage would have been far greater 

Squirrels are not big enough to break something that big.

Are there any coons or opossums in your area?

Good luck

Two years ago in late fall, I saw big 1.0-1.5 inch caliber fig branches
broken down off the mother tree where I got my GM#17.
Talking to the master gardener in charge of that club/community plot;
it turned out to be a problem b/c a big fat ground hog was going up
the (bush) tree for the ripe fruit....   

Yeah that is what I figured it was really only one tree. I have seen possums and recently cats.

The plot thickens. I went around and watered my figs. I went over to my in ground trees and I saw this. I didn't notice it before. The branch is no where to be found. The only thing on the ground was a little piece of new growth. This was a shoot off the gorund maybe 2 feet tall. I doubte an animal was trying to climb this... This tree is right up near the front of the house. It isn't that big yet, but I guess someone who knows what what a fig tree is could figure it out. Why they would snap it like this, then snap another one and not take the branch. If it was a person. Now I am ready to put cameras around my house.

Bear traps. I have bear traps around each and every fig.
But seriously, try a sign saying you are under surveillance, maybe just small ones for the people who are approaching your figs. I know somebody whose freshly planted pine trees kept getting cut down in early December, so she put up a sign saying they were sprayed with chemicals and skunk. They are all still there...

I'm thinking I really want to get cameras. Not just because of the fit trees, but in general. I live in a pretty busy area lots of people going by all day. 

Winchester lever action 444cal. should do the job.

I'm in NJ I would be in jail and sued for everything.