You can spray watered down garlic powder on the leaves. You could water the soil with garlic powdered water. They hate garlic. Dont torture the little critters because they are hungry. Garlic will drive them away without torture.
It could cause mold. Its not for sure going to cause mold. Its like smoking could cause lung cancer but not all smokers get it. Is it normal for you fellas up there to get tornadoes?
If there is a difference how can you tell? Is the inner bark the actual root after you peel the bark? I dont know. I only find one layer of bark on any roots I have skinned. The bare root is white. The root bark is brown. Any one know at all??