Strawberry thief

[Penellype]

I remember in my previous house (over 20 years ago now) growing strawberries and losing a lot to squirrels. I became the proud owner of a very expensive fruit cage, in which I grew strawberries, raspberries and currants. It took the squirrels only a few days to work out how to get underneath the net, even though it was well pegged down, and they still got most of the strawberries.

[ameno]

Birds have been getting all of my strawberries on my new allotment. It's not worth me netting them, though, as their all spread out across several beds. I'm gonna dig them up this winter and consolidate them all into one bed. Easier to protect that way.

[Mr Bones]

It’s blackbirds that eat ours

Now the strawbs are netted any with slug damage are thrown onto the path for the blackbirds.

[Nicos]

Mice also take strawberries. They store little piles of half eaten ones, often still green around the garden.

That's exactly what happened to us a few years back.
Lots of piles of little green strawberries.
Had to smile at all the effort they'd put into doing that.
Still wasn't chuffed ...not one for us

[Jay-ell]

Well we do get lots of wood pigeons and blackbirds. Wonder if I’m unfairly blaming the squirrels. Well guess I’ll just net and see.

The squirrels are the ones that will not be blamed for nothing

[1Bee]

You've reminded me I need to net mine... Which now means UN-netting something else... waaah!

[burnie]

Slightly off topic, but is there a netting that is not plastic available, I shall need to buy more and am cutting down on plastic use, even if it's not single use if I can. I have camouflage netting but the holes are too big in that.

[Jay-ell]

Slightly off topic, but is there a netting that is not plastic available, I shall need to buy more and am cutting down on plastic use, even if it's not single use if I can. I have camouflage netting but the holes are too big in that.

Short answer - Yes.

[Jay-ell]

Slightly off topic, but is there a netting that is not plastic available, I shall need to buy more and am cutting down on plastic use, even if it's not single use if I can. I have camouflage netting but the holes are too big in that.

Longer answer - will this do
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132228723419
https://www.amazon.co.uk/30x30mm-Nat...K0F91A729YKMFN

[annie8]

Aha exhibit A from the garden today. Am back thinking squirrels again.

[nickdub]

Certainly could be squirrels, and I have had them definitely take strawberries in my garden, OTH the damage in your photo looks a lot like the result of pecking.

[annie8]

Reckon I’ll have to catch them red handed to be sure. In the meantime have netted them and pegged the nets.

[annie8]

Caught them. Squirrel sitting on the fence yesterday chewing away at a lovely red strawberry. Came back this morning with a friend. Reckon they have taken about half the crop. Have double netted them but not holding out much hope given how ingenious they at getting food from the squirrel proof bird feeder. At this rate I’ll not be bothering to grow strawberries next year.

[Mark_Riga]

I too find strawberries a bit iffy to grow. I've netted them but have a plague of mice after them. and the blackbirds trampolining on the netting to get some, even a meadow pippet was in on the act. Had a nice strawberry and blackcurrant crumble last night though. No squirrels (yet) this year.

[annie8]

It’s so annoying! Tried to double net this morning although they are still hanging around and taunting me. And to think I bought them peanuts over the winter.