Something is eating my maters!

Mallori · July 3, 2015

Some small animal is eating my tomatoes, both ripe and unripe. Based on the droppings, I'm guessing mouse. The poop isn't quite big enough to be a squirrel or a rat, unless the squirrels are not pooping...

They are eating both unripe and blushing fruit, so my harvest has been 0 in the past few days. If they would eat off of one and leave the rest, I wouldn't care so much, but they are taking a few nibbles and moving on, wrecking nearly every fruit!

Does anyone have any tips on keeping them out? I don't know if bird netting or the like will keep mice out. What about those owls? Do they actually work?

digsdirt · July 3, 2015

Are you sure it isn't hornworms? They produce very distinctive "poop". Are the fruit being eaten down that close enough to the ground for mice to reach them?

For mice you can always set a couple of traps baited with cheese or peanut butter. Squirrels are my only problem and while I hate to use it cayanne pepper works.

Dave

Mallori · July 3, 2015

I'm sure its not horn worms. The poop is much smaller and, well, mouse poop shaped! They are climbing all over the plant. I will try some baited traps and see how that works. Thanks!

Wi-sunflower · July 4, 2015

Last Sunday when I was cultivating in the tomato patch, I noticed nearly all of my early fruit had good sized holes in it. For me tho I'm pretty sure it's the crows. They like to play with anything and everything.

A couple of years ago after we planted some late cabbage, we had to replant about 1/4 of the field 2 or 3 times. The crows would pull the transplants out of the ground and then leave them laying a little ways away.

Right now tho, I'm going crazy over some brazen woodchucks that are eating my cole crops. Nearly 1/2 a row of broccoli is striped of leaves and now they are nibbling on some of the heads. I guess I'm going to have to sit out there for a while with the gun.

Carol

b54red · July 4, 2015

I have found that setting out an enclosed bait station works great for rats and mice. I put some of the bait in it and set it out in the rows where the damage is being done and usually within the week I have found the dead rats or mice and disposed of them. The holes in the bait station are too small for most squirrels so if they get too busy I have to use a pellet gun. I haven't figured out anything that works consistently for birds but they are not so much of a problem as long as the fruits are picked at the blush stage.

Bill

Mallori · July 6, 2015

Thanks for the tip. I will have to try that.

July 3, 2015	#1
Mallori Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 28	Something is eating my maters! Some small animal is eating my tomatoes, both ripe and unripe. Based on the droppings, I'm guessing mouse. The poop isn't quite big enough to be a squirrel or a rat, unless the squirrels are not pooping... They are eating both unripe and blushing fruit, so my harvest has been 0 in the past few days. If they would eat off of one and leave the rest, I wouldn't care so much, but they are taking a few nibbles and moving on, wrecking nearly every fruit! Does anyone have any tips on keeping them out? I don't know if bird netting or the like will keep mice out. What about those owls? Do they actually work?

July 3, 2015	#2
digsdirt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: No.Central Arkansas - 6b/7a Posts: 179	Are you sure it isn't hornworms? They produce very distinctive "poop". Are the fruit being eaten down that close enough to the ground for mice to reach them? For mice you can always set a couple of traps baited with cheese or peanut butter. Squirrels are my only problem and while I hate to use it cayanne pepper works. Dave __________________ Dave

July 4, 2015	#4
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Last Sunday when I was cultivating in the tomato patch, I noticed nearly all of my early fruit had good sized holes in it. For me tho I'm pretty sure it's the crows. They like to play with anything and everything. A couple of years ago after we planted some late cabbage, we had to replant about 1/4 of the field 2 or 3 times. The crows would pull the transplants out of the ground and then leave them laying a little ways away. Right now tho, I'm going crazy over some brazen woodchucks that are eating my cole crops. Nearly 1/2 a row of broccoli is striped of leaves and now they are nibbling on some of the heads. I guess I'm going to have to sit out there for a while with the gun. Carol

July 4, 2015	#5
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I have found that setting out an enclosed bait station works great for rats and mice. I put some of the bait in it and set it out in the rows where the damage is being done and usually within the week I have found the dead rats or mice and disposed of them. The holes in the bait station are too small for most squirrels so if they get too busy I have to use a pellet gun. I haven't figured out anything that works consistently for birds but they are not so much of a problem as long as the fruits are picked at the blush stage. Bill

July 6, 2015	#6
Mallori Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 28	Thanks for the tip. I will have to try that.