Something eating them - need a poop identification expert

[seaeagle]

Originally Posted by tam91

Hornworms would make lots pellets like that all over the ground? And not one leaf has been touched - only the ripe tomatoes at the bottom of the plant?

When I had hornworms before, they practically defoliated the plant...

I have never seen a horn worm that ate tomatoes and not the leaves.I know they will nibble on tomatoes too, mostly cause they are in their line of travel.Anyway, if they are horn worms they are some big ones judging by the size of the poop

Edit to say I didn't see salsas post before I posted, but I agree with what he said

[Kikaida]

My vote for hornworm...Go out at night and use a flashlight. Your vision will be more focused and they'll be moving around more. They can be very hard to spot. And they do do do a lot.

[GardeningCook]

I've seen Hornworms eat tomato fruit, just not in the amount/fashion that the OP's pics show.

[Dewayne mater]

The eater is not a horn worm. That could be rats, squirrels and possibly birds. Based on the sungold damage, I'm leaning towards rats/squirrels. If rats, I would use rat traps that kill, not relocate. They are plenty numerous and carry lots of diseases and pests and I prefer to have as little to do with them as possible.

Dewayne mater

[tam91]

By the time I got back there, the hornworms did eat some leaves. So I have now dusted the plants.

Re. the eaters - doubtful it is birds, the fruits were way down on the ground and hidden. So I have also set rat traps.

No, I'm not relocating rats - icky. And those disease carrying things are no way going in my car. Sorry.

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by tam91

By the time I got back there, the hornworms did eat some leaves. So I have now dusted the plants.

Re. the eaters - doubtful it is birds, the fruits were way down on the ground and hidden. So I have also set rat traps.

No, I'm not relocating rats - icky. And those disease carrying things are no way going in my car. Sorry.

To each, and I don't judge,this is a personal decision. I just can't bring myself to kill, because it was just trying to survive. And It stays in the trap until released. Besides, I don't sit on, rub, or lick my car trunk carpet, so I am not afraid of disease. Killing it- icky. Sorry.

[tam91]

Well I don't know anyone nearby that would like any extra rats. And my show dogs do go in my van - and rats carry fleas for one thing, which can bite them, or me.

I don't like to kill things needlessly, but when some things get too close to me, or my property, I guess I find it necessary. Hopefully quick and painlessly, I am not cruel.

[ginger2778]

Tam, I think we are OK respectfully seeing the others viewpoint. I think we are still friends.

[Gardeneer]

It is just the battle for survival. There is no animosity. Like the Old man in "The Old Man And Sea" Said to the fish :: "You are my brother but I have to kill you "

Gardeneer

[tam91]

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Tam, I think we are OK respectfully seeing the others viewpoint. I think we are still friends.

Absolutely still friends.

I did go through all sorts of gymnastics trying to save orphaned baby raccoons, if that helps.

[ContainerTed]

Tracy, I see it as you are fighting for your survival. It is war. If you walk away and let them live, then what is next. Do they march in boldly and demand the rest of the garden or else???

Sorry, I can't type any more. I'm laughing at my own thoughts. Kill the ruddy beggars.!!! I respect the right of others to have a different opinion, but man is at the top of the food chain and we must do certain things to stay there.

[tam91]

I guess I am with you. Caught some sort of rodent - and lol, I played the girlie card and didn't look close, sent the guys to get rid of it haha

Found a dying hornworm too, yay

[Gerardo]

Wild rats are tough beings. I respect their skills and ability to adapt and survive, but it doesn't hold me back from 86'ing them. Wild rats scratch, claw and bite; a shovel gives me the distance I need and the heft to make it a quick death.

[FLRedHeart]

Originally Posted by ginger2778

To date we have caught 14 rats and relocated them to nearby woods a few miles away.

ginger, Thought I'd pass this link along to you if you ever needed help as these people are sympathetic to rats and may be able to accept them:

mice and rats' rights

FL law is that when transporting rats you either go to drop them off at the county animal division if they accept them, or perhaps a private clinic, I'm not sure about the latter.

Otherwise, the only way you can transport or release a rat is if it is a native rat and you have on your person a signed, advance permission from the private property owner where it is to be released, and that property must be over 40 acres, and the species must not be exotic, and is must not be public (federal, state or municipal) under any circumstance. You can't even release it on your own property unless you have over 40 acres if I understood right, and you can never cross the county line.

In my county it is a local offense to transport nuisance rodents without the written permit. They are considered disease vectors (like mosquitoes) and even when they look healthy, they have the potential to transmit many diseases between populations and this keeps disease spread in check, in addition to people, so the law has a logical basis. BTW, I learned this the hard way.

Hope this is helpful. I personally would not release them into woods because everything else aside, there are rare and endangered endemic rodents that are losing habitat throughout the state due to invasive and far more aggressive species, and the endemics are harder and harder to find.
Cheers