Mystery tomato attacker

[mulemad]

Someone is eating a tomato in my kitchen. At first I thought it was a mouse. So I left a tomato on the table with no way a mouse or a rat could access it (unless it is a champion show jumper) and the next day the tomato had still been attacked. Could it be a nocturnal bird? There were no telltale rat/mouse droppings anywhere so I feel I need to look somewhere else. Or a Bat??? Last night I hid all the tomatoes with other veg: pattypans and padron peppers in a terracotta bowl and covered it with a teacloth. This morning The topmost tomato (a spanish gordo) had been attacked with a vengeance. There are teethmarks which rule out birds. But how could a rat/mouse get there and also leave no droppings. Back to the bat theory. There is an open loft area above the kitchen and I know there are bats (and mice). Does anyone have any bat experience? In the photos (last night's victim) you can see the teethmarks. The upper and lower incisors are 1cm (4/10 ") apart on attack. This bicho also leaves the skin.

[newatthiskat]

I don't know but I think it is time for a bat/mouse relocation specialist

[Labradors2]

My guess is that it's a constipated mouse {LOL}. They can climb up table legs!

Linda

[kath]

My vote is also for a mouse- they can climb anywhere. Just last week we had a couple of bats in the house for a few days before we realized it and were able to get them back outside but they didn't bother any of the tomatoes that were covering the kitchen and porch tables. There are many of them around our garden at night and they use our front porch as a night roost but they don't ever bother any of the tomatoes in the garden either.

[FaithHopeLove]

I can't see a bat doing that, I also think it's a mouse. Set a trap! You can use the tomato they destroyed!

[ScottinAtlanta]

It is a rat, I do believe. They can climb anywhere. Look under your sink to see if it is getting in around your drain pipes - you will also find droppings in that area if they are.

[clkeiper]

Don't rule out chipmunks and moles. They both will damage the fruit, especially if they are thirsty.

[Tom A To]

House mouse. I think bats like to eat flying insects.

[mulemad]

Last night I put out 3 half tomatoes (the other halves were the good side of BER victims). They were about 2 inches diameter, each perched on top fof a jam jar. This morning they had disappeared completely, no trace at all! I'm going to have to install CCTV I reckon. The house is unlocked at night but the human factor can be ruled out because of the dogs. I also found this morning the body of an abducted tomato about 10 yards from the patch. It was still whole but had been molested. The abductor was either surprized and fled or just didn't like the taste.

[riceke]

I've seen that type of gnawing in my garden and witnessed a rat or large mouse doing the nibbling at night. Couldn't tell which it was as my flashlight couldn't light it up well.

[ScottinAtlanta]

Given the appetite of the beast, it is a rather large rat in your home. Look for entrances beside all pipes, and put out traps.

[CapnChkn]

Probably NOT a bat, most are nocturnal insectivores.

[greene]

You can make a large trap: Get a TALL metal garbage can, place it next to a table of similar height. The next part is trial and error. Use something like a paint stirring stick and balance it from the table edge to the top edge of the can, but have the excess hanging over the center of the can. The bait (tomato or other food) will be placed near the end of the stick over the center of the can. You will need a counterbalance equivalent to the weight of the tomato on the other end of the stick (please use something non-edible). When the rat walks along the 'gangplank' to get the tomato, his weight will cause the stick to tip into the can. This may not work every time as a rat can jump rather high (about 3 feet) especially when he's desperate, but it's something to do on a long, rainy weekend.

[MissS]

Originally Posted by greene

You can make a large trap: Get a TALL metal garbage can, place it next to a table of similar height. The next part is trial and error. Use something like a paint stirring stick and balance it from the table edge to the top edge of the can, but have the excess hanging over the center of the can. The bait (tomato or other food) will be placed near the end of the stick over the center of the can. You will need a counterbalance equivalent to the weight of the tomato on the other end of the stick (please use something non-edible). When the rat walks along the 'gangplank' to get the tomato, his weight will cause the stick to tip into the can. This may not work every time as a rat can jump rather high (about 3 feet) especially when he's desperate, but it's something to do on a long, rainy weekend.

This is good and is quite similar to what I was going to suggest. You can just make a ramp up to the garbage can or tall bucket. Place some cabbage and tomatoes in the container and the culprit will drop down into the can but will be unable to get out. I guess that you could just put the can along side the table and see if it will try to jump in.

[matilda'skid]

I have seen a wood rat climb a wall in my out building. They can get anywhere. I have the best luck with the black plastic Tom Cat rat traps at Lowe's. They are about $5

I give tomatoes away to some elderly people. Last weekend I left the tomatoes in a box on their porch because they weren't home. A squirrel ate half of one tomato.