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Gooseberries vanishing -not pigeons

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davholla:
When I netted my bushes they all had lots of berries but some when I removed the netting had none.
Any ideas why?  It couldn't have been birds - not unless they can take the netting off and put it back on again.

Beersmith:
This sounds like a case for Sherlock Holmes.

If you checked the ground to make sure they were not knocked off by wind, rainfall or hail, not impossible given the absolutely torrential weather events seen over the past few weeks, then logically all that remains is pests. 

The most likely candidates being two legged.  Pigeons can perch on nets and cause a surprising amount of damage even when crops are covered. And if you are not careful can sometimes get underneath if the nets are loose. But destructive as they are, the ability to remove nets, pick fruit and then put the net back may be beyond them.

I'd suspect other two legged pests, which is also very very sad. 

daveyboi:
I have seen squirrels eating mine on the odd occasion

davholla:

--- Quote from: Beersmith on July 30, 2021, 16:06:16 ---This sounds like a case for Sherlock Holmes.

If you checked the ground to make sure they were not knocked off by wind, rainfall or hail, not impossible given the absolutely torrential weather events seen over the past few weeks, then logically all that remains is pests. 

The most likely candidates being two legged.  Pigeons can perch on nets and cause a surprising amount of damage even when crops are covered. And if you are not careful can sometimes get underneath if the nets are loose. But destructive as they are, the ability to remove nets, pick fruit and then put the net back may be beyond them.

I'd suspect other two legged pests, which is also very very sad.

--- End quote ---
I don't think it could be people either, my wife tied the nets on and it was a real pain to remove them - to find no gooseberries.  There are neighbouring plots which would have been much easier to steal from.  Also some bushes were fine!

Obelixx:
That just leaves sneaky rodents then.

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