diff --git a/gathering/catalog/beetle_stag_common.tres b/gathering/catalog/beetle_stag_common.tres
index 65b15df..c8b7d85 100644
--- a/gathering/catalog/beetle_stag_common.tres
+++ b/gathering/catalog/beetle_stag_common.tres
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ scare_radius = 0.1
 capture_radius = 0.34
 interaction_range = 2.8
 charge_duration = 1.0
-sprite_pixel_size = 0.005
+sprite_pixel_size = 0.0075
 sprite_tilt_degrees = 0.0
 capture_respawn_min_seconds = 90.0
 capture_respawn_max_seconds = 150.0
diff --git a/gathering/gathering_controller.gd b/gathering/gathering_controller.gd
index 2859145..c061db5 100644
--- a/gathering/gathering_controller.gd
+++ b/gathering/gathering_controller.gd
@@ -341,10 +341,12 @@ func _build_marker() -> void:
 	_marker_invalid_material.albedo_color = MARKER_INVALID_COLOR
 	_marker_invalid_material.shading_mode = BaseMaterial3D.SHADING_MODE_UNSHADED
 	_marker_invalid_material.roughness = 1.0
+	_marker_invalid_material.no_depth_test = true
 	_marker_valid_material = StandardMaterial3D.new()
 	_marker_valid_material.albedo_color = MARKER_VALID_COLOR
 	_marker_valid_material.shading_mode = BaseMaterial3D.SHADING_MODE_UNSHADED
 	_marker_valid_material.roughness = 1.0
+	_marker_valid_material.no_depth_test = true
 	var disc := CylinderMesh.new()
 	disc.top_radius = marker_radius
 	disc.bottom_radius = marker_radius
diff --git a/tests/gathering_marker_surface_validation.gd b/tests/gathering_marker_surface_validation.gd
index 8ce3b4a..72f15f0 100644
--- a/tests/gathering_marker_surface_validation.gd
+++ b/tests/gathering_marker_surface_validation.gd
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ func _run() -> void:
 	assert(invalid_material.albedo_color == Color.WHITE)
 	assert(is_equal_approx(invalid_material.albedo_color.a, 1.0))
 	assert(is_equal_approx(valid_material.albedo_color.a, 1.0))
+	assert(invalid_material.no_depth_test)
+	assert(valid_material.no_depth_test)
 	assert(
 		invalid_material.shading_mode
 		== BaseMaterial3D.SHADING_MODE_UNSHADED
diff --git a/tests/generated_world_runtime_validation.gd b/tests/generated_world_runtime_validation.gd
index 6e03df7..6c4343f 100644
--- a/tests/generated_world_runtime_validation.gd
+++ b/tests/generated_world_runtime_validation.gd
@@ -943,6 +943,10 @@ func _validate_prop_catalog(region: GeneratedWorldRegion) -> void:
 		assert(instance.position.is_zero_approx())
 		assert(_find_mesh_instance(instance) != null)
 		instance.free()
+		if definition.has_gatherable_surface():
+			assert(
+				definition.gatherable_surface_clearance >= 0.12
+			)
 	var mushroom := catalog.definition_for_id(&"prop_mushroom")
 	assert(mushroom != null and mushroom.has_collision())
 	assert(mushroom.visual_offset.y < 0.0)
diff --git a/tests/tree_gathering_prototype_validation.gd b/tests/tree_gathering_prototype_validation.gd
index bb6d1df..2814e19 100644
--- a/tests/tree_gathering_prototype_validation.gd
+++ b/tests/tree_gathering_prototype_validation.gd
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func _validate_beetle_data() -> void:
 	assert(beetle.target_population_for_anchor_count(8) == 3)
 	assert(beetle.target_population_for_anchor_count(40) == 14)
 	assert(beetle.target_population_for_anchor_count(400) == 64)
-	assert(is_equal_approx(beetle.sprite_pixel_size, 0.005))
+	assert(is_equal_approx(beetle.sprite_pixel_size, 0.0075))
 	assert(beetle.is_stationary_spawn())
 	assert(not beetle.can_be_scared())
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func _validate_anchored_presentation() -> void:
 	var sprite := presentation.get_node("GatherableSprite") as Sprite3D
 	assert(sprite != null)
 	assert(is_zero_approx(sprite.position.y))
-	assert(is_equal_approx(sprite.pixel_size, 0.005))
+	assert(is_equal_approx(sprite.pixel_size, 0.0075))
 	assert(not sprite.shaded)
 	assert(sprite.billboard == BaseMaterial3D.BILLBOARD_ENABLED)
 	assert(sprite.texture_filter == BaseMaterial3D.TEXTURE_FILTER_NEAREST)
diff --git a/world/generation/terrain_prop_definition.gd b/world/generation/terrain_prop_definition.gd
index 58fdddd..d2524eb 100644
--- a/world/generation/terrain_prop_definition.gd
+++ b/world/generation/terrain_prop_definition.gd
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@ extends Resource
 ## Reject upward-facing branches and foliage so attachments favor trunk-like
 ## faces. Zero accepts only vertical faces; one accepts every orientation.
 @export_range(0.0, 1.0, 0.05) var gatherable_surface_maximum_up_dot := 0.35
-@export_range(0.0, 0.25, 0.005) var gatherable_surface_clearance := 0.025
+## Keep camera-facing creature billboards clear of the sampled trunk as they
+## rotate. This is a physical anchor offset, so creatures remain hidden by the
+## rest of the tree instead of rendering through it as an overlay.
+@export_range(0.0, 0.25, 0.005) var gatherable_surface_clearance := 0.12
 
 
 func supports_chunk_tags(chunk_tags: PackedStringArray) -> bool: