I would have liked to post something about this in Edible Plants, but...
i've had to relinquish most of my veg growing, but have tended my asparagus bed through drought and floods (it's been underwater at times this winter) and I was hoping for my first pick this weekend. I should have covered the bed as soon as I saw the first spears appear, because the sky rats have got there first. They have ignored my huge parsley plants, which are normally stripped by now, and majored on my pride and joy. I wish they would eat asparagus beetles instead...