A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Critters in Strawberries!

hello, new here, so, Hope this is right place..

I live in the country, and, Something has been getting into my strawberries..

I'm curious, WHAT would be Most likely, to be doing this to me.. I am RElocating those I catch, but, this is becoming a Daily task.. and, I wonder, if some of these should just be kept here to catch mice and gohpers, etc?

I'm caught opposums ( my guess at Worst offender ) red foxes, skunks, ... I have racoons here, but, none trapped yet..

thanks for any good input!

Could be anyone.
I hope you're relocating the animals near a source of water.

Hey Redwood,
Welcome Aboard...
We're very glad you found us...

Critters in your Strawberries...
There's lot's..
Snails, chipmonks, birds, groundhogs/woodchucks',
rodents, oh my, oh my, just about anyone who likes strawberries I guess..
And whooooo could blame them..

What does it look like that's happening?
Small holes, half of the berry gone, slime on them???

no no.. well, I _also have sowbugs.. but, warmer weather has discoursged them...

the critter is Picking berries.. some Green, just Wasting them ..

I guess, the Real Question is, about the foxes... if they Don't eat berries.. I would not RElocate them.. I will blame on the opposum.. I KNOW they like fruit... the foxes, I'm unsure..

thanks!

Are sowbugs the same things as "roly poly's?"

Redwood,
Other than actually sitting out there and catchin' them in the act...
That's actually sometimes how I do it or know it,
I've caught the woodchuck there....
I've gone thru at night time *say around 11:00pm* and caught the snails on them....
I have seen birds swoop down there and stay a bit
then fly away...

Are you able to find some "tule" and cover them??

Foxes do eat berrys! They are omnivorous, although meat (birds & rodents) make up most there diet. I wouldnt waste time relocating groundhogs/woodchucks, they keep coming back after you get rid of one- another comes back. Out here a varmint rifle is used to control them. They are nothing but trouble for farmers and homeowners. They cause extensive property amd agro damage if left unchecked.

I have 5 baby puff~balls of those varmits under my
front porch...
Plus a very vocal momma...
Grrrrrrr...
They are very cute when they are little,
but I dislike them for eating all of my hard work..

Redwood..., I'm glad you posted this topic ,, I'm having the same problem.. Strawberries as they are turning red become half eaten, or picked off, sometimes before that this started happening a couple of weeks ago, before that I got to them first I've checked the soil and leafs I haven't seen any bugs or slug trails so I'm at a lose too!

You might try building a chicken wire cage over the top of the bed.

I had very little trouble with my berries this year.

thanks for the replies!

well, Luckily, I _don't have wood chucks, But..

How much wood, could a wood chuck chuck, if a wood chuck could chuck wood?

sowbugs, easy to determine.. they eat their way into the berry, in place.. like I said, the warmer weather has Discouraged them..

no, not birds.. I have plenty of those, but, cats seem to keep them from landing very long..

its just the Blatant distruction that makes me mad.. take Some.. but, Eat them.. don't just pick green ones, and, leave them all about.. so, I know, its a nighttime visitor.. I will Continue to trap, and RElocate.. untill I run OUT of them, or I get Tired of doing it..

I Hate the expense of chicken wire.. and, Dealing with it... but, I am sure, its a solution..

Thanks!