A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Gardener's Chat who did it?!?

THIS was my centaurea montana 3 days ago


And THIS is what it looked like 2 days ago!




Who did this??? Woodchuck? Deer? Looks like they decided to have a nap right in the middle of this plant after they had a nice snack of the front of it!!!

I usually blame Cindy but she might be innocent this time.

Dangggggg It looks like it just took a nap right in the middle of those! But it appears you still have some standing so Maybe you can still enjoy the ones that didn't get laid on.

Also Glad you caught her,, Now to make a plan to catch the Father !

Lynne----so very sorry about your centaurea montana. We will hope that nothing else bothers it and that it can still come back out of the "state" it is in.

I am happy for you that you caught the woodchuck. Hopefully the "father" has gone.--and hopefgullly it was her and not the dear that are giving you trouble.

Lynne, I had a big pot of peppers I had started from seed and sat outside in the sun until they got big enough to put in the garden. The dirt looks like someone went through it was a tiller. The tiny seedlings are ruined of course. I have been trying to grow potatoes in a tire for months and have been wondering why it's not working. I have replanted 2 cucumber plants 3 times now because they either disappear or are dug up. Only the cukes at the house end of the garden are bothered. Last night I found out who the culprit is. Lizzy the Killer Cat. I went out to replant the cukes again and she dug them up right in front of me. I ran her off and she went right to the potato tire and started digging. I'm sure she's the guilty party with the peppers too. I don't know why it's only certain plants. She only digs up 2 cucumber plants (I put cages around them). Why not all of them and she hasn't bothered the tomatoes, squash or strawberries at all.

So sorry your cat is digging up your plants, Sheri. Can you put some orange or lemon rinds in the pots? Cats are not supposed to like citrus fruit odors.

When I came home yesterday, there was a baby woodchuck in my tomato garden - all the way on the other side of the house from where they usually are, and in a complete diagnol long line from the shed where the burrow is! It did't flinch when I tried to chase it off either!!! Later on, I saw 2 babies on the ramp to the shed!!! Don reset the trap down there before he left for work today. I hope we catch them both at the same time. The first time we ever caught any woodchucks it was 3 babies at once - they must have followed each other right into the trap!

If only one goes in, I don't think they are heavy enough to spring the trap yet , so it will get a good meal of the broccoli and then go on its merry way! Here's hoping they aren't that smart.

Oh no.! We need to figure out something they don't like. I'll try the rinds.

A Marmot! You caught a Marmot!

I've never seen one before. Are they usually in your yard?

Every summer here without fail!!! Lately there are 2 babies, and the big fat father. This morning I saw a baby in my front foundation plants! There has never been one up there before. This is WAR!!!

Lynne talking to the woodchucks>>>

Lynne, I am so sorry---I say if you cannot catch the big fat father then go for the momma---pappa ain't gonna be too effective without her!!!

Unfortunately he is very fickle and gets new mates at the drop of a hat!!!

Well if they weren't so infuriating , they might actually be cute this morning! Two babies have been playing on the ramp to the shed all morning, and a frog has been sitting on the ramp just watching them.

Of course I also saw one of them climbing up the side of the shed and eating my trumpet vine, and other flowering plants that are growing on that side!

So Sorry to hear about teh babies----I hope you can catch them all at once---that would be ever so nice



I just now noticed your new signature line (is it called) I love it--and I esp love the rainbow heart--Very Nice!!!

I missed this post somehow? FUNNY!

they are so big. So dogs and cats don't scare them away? Is there some type of repellent you can put around your plants before they're all destroyed?

Sheri - I have tried every repellent I know of - they eat around it. And today I noticed that they have starting eating my plants in the driveway garden up by the street! I am NOT happy about that!

But I AM happy to say that Don trapped 2 more babies!!! A couple of hours apart. Here is the second one, waiting in Don's car trunk to be taken up to the mountains to join up with the rest of the family - EXCEPT the ever elusive big FAT father!!!

wonder how many of them there are waiting to be caught. It's nice that you're not killing them.

Ohhhhhhhh - we would never do that! While I am furious about all the damage they do to my plants yearly, I could never hurt a critter! Don couldn't either.

How nice of Don to "reunite" the woodchuck family--now if only "Daddy" would allow himself to be returned to his family--life would be good indeed!!!!

Awwww, baby Marmot!

how big is the dad Lynne? Cuz I think the babies are pretty darn big.

Sheri - the father is much bigger - fuller and rounder from eating all my plants over the years! Not sure what to compare it to really.

Here is a link to a picture I found online - the one here is pretty comparible in size - maybe even a bit fatter!


large woodchuck

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW... 2 smaller baby woodchucks were in my garden at the end of the driveway. I opened my bedroom window and made loud noises and they ran off to my neighbor's yard.

As I was doing that, my daughter came into the room to tell me there was a deer in the backyard!


I THINK I am feeding them too well!!!
But I have been trying to plant deer resistant plants - guess the woodchucks aren't that picky!

Gee Lynne--and here I thought you DIDN'T live in the middle of the country---I think you have more trouble than we have here, and we're suppose to be out in the country, so to speak..---well almost anyway :wink:

Are you sure you are not being sold "critter friendly" plants on the sly??

boy, that sucker is big. Will liquid fence keep them and your deer out of the flowers.

Carol - I don't know what the deal is, but I wish they would go to someone else's garden for a change! This evening I chased away 3 babies and the same deer as this morning from my pond gardens! I am soooooooooooo tired from doing this!!!

Sheri - I have used that, and even something called Shotgun repel. It only keeps them away for a day or two at most!

gosh Lynne, everyone's getting fat off your hard work.

I wonder if the liquid fence washes into the ground after a few days or maybe as big as those suckers are they just get used to it. I've heard that moth balls will keep some critters out of the yard.

Been there... done that... unfortunately it didn't work!

But thanks for the suggestion, Sheri!

hummmmm....nope I still think my dogs are the one laying in my flower beds. I know they sure don't mind tromping around in there while I'm watching, so why not take a nap there.

I guess I'll keep'em...one did kill a snake today

Lynne, I didn't read all the way back but have you tried Critter Ridder from Lowe's. Johnny put out some this weekend trying to keep our cat from getting in the bird nest by the screened in porch and so far so good. He said it smells terrible.

I haven't tried that, or heard of it - I will check it out next time I go to Lowes. Thanks for the information Sheri.

I thought I'd post these pictures in this thread, since my other trap pictures are here. Last week, we caught a squirrel 3 times in the trap. Don't know if it's the same one - Don thinks it is!!! Stupid animal!

Yesterday morning I looked out the window and saw something not moving in the trap. It didn't look like a woodchuck from up in the window but I couldn't tell - it wasn't moving much. I took out my binoculars and couldn't believe my eyes. Threw on some clothes to get a better look up close, and YEP - we had caught a fox this time! A very MANGY fox at that!







Don felt sorry for it, and offered it some catfood because it looked so sad and sick, but it didn't eat it. Didn't go right out of the trap either when he released it, but finally crawled out and went off.

Why oh why can't we just catch the woodchucks and be done with it?!?

fox's, bears, woodchucks, raccoons, deer,, I think IF I see a gorilla in your cage trap I'll fall off My chair