Topic: crop vandalism - birds? Fox?

[sarahr]

My mother went down the lottie today - some of the runner beans we planted that were trailing up sticks had been completely pulled out (these were heritage beans that I got from hdra and have had trouble germinating :'(). I waited until they were very big as well before I took them down there. My courgettes and marrows - something had been at those as well a couple had been pulled out.  Then there was potatoes that had been dug up and the strangest thing was a covered bucket with a bit of nemaslug left in it had been tipped over. ??? Is it a single animal that has done this damage or is it several? Thanks.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Could it be humans?

[mark_h]

I would say its the 2 legged pests that blight many of our lotties... now where did I put my shotgun.....

Mark

[giantseye]

Yeah, definately sounds like people to me :-X :-X :'(

Were there any foot prints visible?

[sandersj89]

Not sure but I would put my money on pigeons or flying rats!

Jerry

[giantseye]

pigeons would would strip the leaves from brassicas etc, but I haven't heard of them pulling stuff up (maybe someone will correct me) :o

I have a problem with a mole at the moment, which has uprooted my celery and onions. >:( :-X

Have you got any mounds appearing on your lottie ???

[sandersj89]

Hmmm, well I have have pigeons pull up newly transplanted french beans this year. First the leaves striped away and then pulled up by the stalks.

Jerry

[beejay]

We just had some newly planted french beans pulled/dug up. We have concluded it is foxes attracted by the pelleted chicken poo they were planted with. We might have to consider using something else. Anyone else come across this?

[Mrs Ava]

The deer pull up and eat our young beans and stomp around where ever they please, and do they ever shut the gate, nope, not ever!  Or maybe a badger?  Both big and sturdy enough to do a fair bit of damage.