something eating my tomatoes

[BLTLOVER]

Something has been eating tomatoes. (see photos). I've done some research about horn worms and some say that they only eat the leaves and stems but some say they also eat the tomatoes. I have this every season with minimal damage early on but I've lost about 5 tomatoes so far. I've never had any leaf damage to my tomato plants. Some people say it's birds.......don't know.

[b54red]

I have had hornworms eat tomatoes like that but it looks more like a rodent such as a squirrel. They will eat your ripe and blushing tomatoes especially when it is very hot and dry. If it is really dry like the drought we had the past two years they will even eat a good portion of green tomatoes; but they do prefer the riper ones first.

[BLTLOVER]

Great answer. That makes the most sense, especially when you consider how dry it has been. I really wasn't convinced that it was birds because I have a birdbath that I fill up twice a day and it gets alot of traffic. I may consider putting out a pan on the ground and keep water in it.

Thanks for the help......mystery solved!

[b54red]

The mystery may be solved but once squirrels develop a fondness for tomatoes they can be repeat grazers.

[matereater]

Hornworms typically only eat the greenies, not ripe or partially ripe.