What can I say except that rabbits and other critters just would not get to this location.
I know all about the other stuff which is again why this caught my eye.
The images I have here just don't show the "plug" I am talking about.
This is on a house size boulder on the side of the river, seperated by other house size boulders, yes mice could get here. Rabbits I am not so sure
And yes I am very familiar with what you have posted.
Not wishing to argue but you would need to see the location and the root "plug" in person.
It is different.
It is not browser territory, in high/flood water it is an island and the boulder itself is high enough to be well above the extreme flood levels they had last fall.
I have sent the pics to some tree experts and I will post and findings they may come up with.
This is a pic last year at flood level of the rock from above. with fast water around it there was no way to even try to climb along the rocks like I usually do.
The rock in question is at the bottom, right of centre, beside the reddish rock with the log linking to it, in front of the green moss covered rock behind it. This year the rock was almost 4m above the water line.

In most cases you would be correct with you posted, Just like real estate it is location.
And the only way to prove my point is wait for the little tree to die.
Buy then again I had the same sort of "discussion" with someone over ancient trees on the cliff faces of the canyon till I brought a sample down after a rock fall.