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There have been a number of calls about damage to citrus tree trunks. Lemon is especially delicious, it seems. As the hills have dried and we haven't had much fall rain, rodents who like to eat the green part just below the bark of the trees are looking for stuff to eat and they've decided trees are good enough. It's possible to tell what animal is doing the damage based on the position in the tree where the damage is happening.
Gopher girdling damage is usually belowground. Vole damage usually starts at ground level and will extend up to maybe 6-8 inches aboveground. Occasionally, vole girdling damage will extend an inch or two belowground, as well. Mouse (such as deer mice), roof rat and ground squirrel damage can occur anywhere on the tree. Rabbit damage can occur from ground level up to perhaps 2-3 feet aboveground (although damage above 1.5 feet aboveground is fairly uncommon) depending on if the damage is from cottontails or jackrabbits (jackrabbits reach higher on the tree).
As soon as they find more tasty things to eat as the hillsides green up, the damage will let up. But rats will always find tasty fruit in the trees.
Read more about managing rodents and other vertebrates:
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/citrus/managing-vertebrates/#gsc.tab=0
Actually rabbits are Lagomorphs, not rodents. Look it up.
vertebrate damage to tree trunks
vole damage
