Well, for starters, these critters are not used to chewing through socks. It may damage their mouth (even leave 'em hanging by a tooth) and change their behavior, which is never a good thing. Also, it's often not enjoyable for people trying to enjoy the wilderness to come across a nice large tree with a smelly sock filled with rotting chicken, not to mention the stupid scale nailed to the tree.
PS: if anyone thinks those scientists will pull all that crap down when their "study" is over, think again. I always find those stupid plastic drift fences and stakes, and even the traps at the end in the woods years after the study ends.
