Something's digging holes in my raised beds :(

[MagicLady]

I've had real problems with something digging holes in my raised beds They have always had a short (3ft high) chicken wire fence around them to keep the dog out (and it's got worse since we lost him, so I know it definitely wasn't him), and we put a second layer on earlier this year when the digging started. But it still seems to be happening.

I've also noticed lots of piles of pigeon feathers around the garden. Any suggestions as to what could be doing this (I'm thinking cats or foxes, but MIL thought maybe rats!), and suggestions on how I can protect my veggies?

TIA

[rustylady]

As you haven't got a dog any more, my first instinct is cats. I've tried everything I can think of to keep them out of my garden with very little success. Good luck.

[womble]

It totally depends on your garden, rabbits, foxes, badgers, cats, could be any of those. Wouldn't have thought it was rats tbh.

[Two_Sheds]

Rats don't dig for vegetables, they have easier things to plunder, like bin bags. Foxes too

If it was cats, you'd find piles of poo where they've dug. Foxes too

Squirrels? They'd get over the fence, and they love burying stuff

[Bigmallly]

I'm with TS on this one, I would gamble on squirrels. I made some windmills and dotted them around the beds & touch would has been fine since.

[MagicLady]

Didn't even think of squirrels Thanks for the advice guys - I'll try the windmills!

[Sylvan]

What do you use to make your windmills?

(Did they work?)

[snakeshack]

damn squirrils dig holes all over my raised beds,had loads of volunteer peanuts tis year from their raids on the local birdfeeders,ate all my sprouts this time last year despite them being netted,I initially thought it was rats until I caught one red handed

[Sylvan]

It was a red squirrel then? :-P

[gojiberry]

I didn't realise you meant little pits in the soil to start with. I have holes dug in my lottie but they are all where tunnels have caved in from the moles,voles,rats,mice and shrews that seem to enjoy digging in my allotment. I could never have a no dig system. And the tunnels never go detween rows they always go along them.

Ian

[Mell]

Rats don't dig for vegetables, they have easier things to plunder, like bin bags. Foxes too

If it was cats, you'd find piles of poo where they've dug. Foxes too

Squirrels? They'd get over the fence, and they love burying stuff

Hmm, not so much now (the rats & bin bags) with most people having wheelie bins ! We had rats tunnelling under the quail cage. Commando quail is canny though & hasn't suffered the leg bite like many of my friends quail ! Cat got Mr ratty now though

Anyhow whatever it is it will be pooing so ID the poo !

If you have no pets a high pitched deterant might work & I know lots of people say they don't work but the pro ones do, my pest control friend say. Unfortunatly they drive me mad as still in my range of hearing so check that first