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formerly RGG

Some sort of animal is eating my plants and I am not sure what it is or what to do about it. Please see my growers diary for pictures. I have sprayed them with hot pepper solution and will try spraying some magnesium sulfate also as it is said to be a deterrent. Any suggestions are appreciated. I will try to put a fence up by next year but it is out of the question at this time.

5/31/2014 9:19:50 PM

Alabama

My Strawberry plants got that same deal with the leaves gone and just stems left. I think my problem is slugs. Not sure if they could possibly be your culprit too. Every rainstorm they attack again because whatever I put out to deter - the rain washes off. VERY frustrating.

5/31/2014 9:48:42 PM

Clayton, NC

Looks very similar to the ground hog damage I got before a silt fence was put up (welded wire and plastic/fiberglass fabric) last year. Had deer do something along these lines 3 years ago. Any footprints? Should be obvious with deer. With groundhogs, one left a muddy print and I caught another in the act. Havihart (sp?) traps caught some, but didn't keep them out of the patch before the fence, although we have a ton here in this part of NC.

5/31/2014 10:00:38 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I agree with Olympian, it looks like groundhog damage. I have been fighting them for years. I sent you an email a while ago. The only thing I didn't mention was that for a couple years when we had numerous mountain lion sightings around Anamosa and tracks on our property, we had no groundhogs.

5/31/2014 10:05:39 PM

Western PA

Email sent.

6/1/2014 7:15:54 AM

Glosta

Conibear trap works wonders. Took out a woodchuck already this year, set it and when I got back from Taiwan it had fur in it, no animal but the ground was tore up good. Coyote ate good that day, lol. Very cheap on Amazon.com

6/1/2014 10:34:31 AM

South Arkansas

Try Liquid Fence. You can get it off Ebay at a moderate price. Your plants look like mine after rabbits clip the vine tips.

6/1/2014 11:01:05 AM

Corbin, KY

Its a ground hog you must kill them or they will destroy your plants. Traps and shooting them work. They have to go.

6/1/2014 1:34:14 PM

Hinckley MN

blood meal products like PlantSkid work to deter plant eaters and give a fertilizer effect at the same time.

6/1/2014 1:53:18 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Double fence around patch works like a charm.

6/1/2014 2:03:11 PM

Upa Creek, MO

That is really frustrating when this happens. I grow next to a small wooded area and have the same issues each year. I use chicken wire for rabbits and also try cayenne pepper for other animals.I Border the plant and put a little on the growing buds.

6/1/2014 3:28:57 PM

Linden, Mi.,

Yes, wood chucks,
Get a 22 rifle, traps !
And if you catch one shoot it, don't take it some where as "IT WILL COME BACK" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6/1/2014 7:24:28 PM

South Hero, VT

They like sunflower seeds. Abbynormal has woodchuck trapping down to a science. A Jedi knight, he is.

6/1/2014 9:07:53 PM

Muddy Waters

Be careful "you will shoot your eye out kid" If you drive them 10 miles they dont come back.I drive mine 5 miles.Spray paint there butt bright orange.That way if they come back you will know.lol

6/2/2014 6:37:15 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

definitely a groundhog, none of those concoctions work the hot spray the coyote urine, i watched one walk right over the coyote urine once without as much as a hiccup, if you want to trap them margarita mix works well to entice them, got that tip from the trapper that my work hires to get rid of them as they dig under the buildings, if not then yes you must shot them, if you live in an area where conventional guns are taboo like here in the peoples republic of Massachusetts then look into a high powered break barrel style pellet gun.

6/2/2014 8:05:26 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

or find their burrows get some gopher bombs available at any hardware store block all the entrances toss gopher bomb in hole and cover it. as the Japanese would say sayonara

6/2/2014 8:08:11 AM

Webster, NY

I had the same problem for several years. I'd trap them. Take them miles away but either they came back or new ones would show up. Seven years ago I got Maxine as a puppy (beagle / lab mix) and never saw a live woodchuck in the yard again and they never bothered my plants again.

6/2/2014 8:23:23 AM

Whitehall Montana

Call Bill Murray

6/2/2014 10:43:02 AM

formerly RGG

I'm going to try a live trap. Thanks for all the help everyone.

6/2/2014 10:04:47 PM

Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

LOL! before you set them free spray paint them orange. then you'll know for sure when you pull in the driveway and there sitting in your patch eating your plants. they will beat you home

I'd suggest trapping them, filling up the largest trash can you have with water and giving them swimming lessons

6/2/2014 10:17:42 PM

formerly RGG

i have 55 gallon drums filled with water. lol

6/3/2014 6:42:51 AM

Clayton, NC

If possible, think of that silt fence (welded wire fence with black fabric) for next year, if possible. You'll see that a number of growers use this approach.

I had little luck with either repellants, traps (would catch some, but not enough), an electric fence with both high (deer) and low strands(~ 5 inches)from the ground or a 22 (a wildlife friend nailed one). No problems now.

Have relocated possums, racoons, groundhogs and a cat with the Havahart traps. Canteloupe rinds seemed to work best for whistlepigs.

The fence was a pain but well worth it.

6/4/2014 1:39:55 PM

Corbin, KY

I see kudzu growing next to your patch. Groundhogs love to live in and eat kudzu. You need to find conibear traps set them in there den holes. If get inside that kudzu patch you will find them. Don't waste your money on an air rifle unless it is a really high powered one. A .22 rifle would be better if you can fire it in your neighborhood. Water melon rind works good for bait in live trap. Wityh kudzu patch that close Im sure you have several. Conibears in the den holes maybe your only way to slow them down.

6/6/2014 10:47:11 AM