Christmas Tree Palm Damage

[JasonSM]

Hi - new to the forum and this may (or may not) be posted in the right spot.  Please advise or redirect.

I have a Christmas tree palm that has done well in my South Florida yard (Plantation, FL near Ft.  Lauderdale) for five years or so.  Over the last month or so, I've noticed frayed fronds and some snapped or broken mid frond or near the base.  Not sure if it's rodent damage or weevils (getting an education on that as I research).  Any advice or recommendations?  Thanks in advance for input.

[Merlyn]

@JasonSM welcome to PalmTalk!  I haven't seen anything like that for a positive ID, but I'd rule out weevils.  They tend to make a circular hole in the trunk or crown of palms and burrow inside to feast.  A couple of possibilities come to mind:

• Could the wind be whipping them against the fence?  The bottom two photos look more abraded instead of chewed on, like it's been rubbing against the fence and slowly stripping fibers loose.
• Do iguanas feast on Christmas palms?  I have no idea.  For sure they climb up into palms and might sit out on a limb that's just not strong enough to hold it.  I read on here of a guy with whole fronds breaking off.  Apparently a neighbor took down a big Sabal palm and the iguanas needed a new perch.  He lost 3 or 4 big fronds from a Royal before setting up a trail cam at night.  Iguanas were crawling up there and knocking off old fronds just from the weight.
• Squirrels and rats have been known to chew on things...for no apparent reason. 

[JasonSM]

Thanks for the input.  First photos were shot where I stack big lawn debris.  The palm is actually nowhere near any fence - and out in front of (away from) the sawtooth palms.  I do see iguanas in the yard (they destroy hibiscus and seem to like eating my justicia too).  I have squirrels but haven't seen any up in the xmas palm.  Can try some rat traps.  I thought it could be rats - as some of the branches that fell look gnawed. 

[Fusca]

3 hours ago, Merlyn said:

@JasonSM welcome to PalmTalk!

• Squirrels and rats have been known to chew on things...for no apparent reason. 

So true.  Here's the latest attack on my container ranch a few weeks ago - my healthiest Livistona alfredii seedling.  I found the three healthy strap leaves laying beside it.

Thankfully it's recovering...one week later.