Thieving Rat ruining Courgettes!

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

I have been battling the slugs for weeks and now this - I assume this is rat damage?



Any tips for protecting the fruits? The round one was nibbled whilst we were out this morning (was ok first thing) and the other one was nibbled last night. I was looking forward to courgettes.

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Having searched the forum and putting 2 and 2 together.... it could be a two legged rat. My neighbour was telling me she had a squirrel about to come through her kitchen window the other day and I have seen a few knocking about up to mischief.

Trouble is the plot is a long way from the house. I might have to fashion some form of netting barrier...hmmmm

[mothhawk]

Yes, could well be a squirrel, probably thought it had found the biggest nut it had ever seen!



BTW the squirrels round here have four legs....

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

ok, 4 legs. The front ones look more like hands don't they!

[WendyC]

Are there teeth marks? You'd be surprised how much damage a hungry snail can do.

[marchogaeth]

Looking closely at the pictures, I think Wendy is correct in thinking snails. In my mouse experience you get a much more definite bite pattern.

[Tripmeup]

Was my first thought too..looks exactly like one the buggers ate on me last year.. not that I still have it

[Two_Sheds]

Net the crop.

If they still get eaten, it's likely to be snails (although I'd be surprised if a snail did that much damage in one night, really surprised.)

[marchogaeth]

They travel in packs. It's like wolves on a vulnerable deer calf!

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Whatever is responsible has so far managed to evade being caught in the act. I have been routinely dispatching slugs and have not seen any large raspy mouthed specimens. Well, until this evening, I could not believe the size of the gob on one of them. However, this was a considerable distance from the courgette plants (and it is now an ex slug along with it's compadre).

I will construct some form of net defense and step up patrols!

[lainey lou]

Bad luck with your courgettes it's a real nuisance when you've been looking forward to something only to find you've been beaten to it.

If you suspect rats, mint apparently is a deterrent. Chilli is supposed to deter squirrels.

[snakeshack]

I too suspect snails / slugs as there would be much more defined tooth marks with rodents.I would reccomend little blue pellets but i've used loads this year and haven't hit a single slug yet

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

I have been using beer traps and egg shell and have been responsible for countless slugicides on a daily basis.

I was thinking about coffee grounds.

Interesting about the mint and chilli. I have both, are you able to offer any further info on how these work? Do I fire chillis at them with a catapult?

Thanks for the replies.

[lottie dolly]

Last year squirrels were caught in the act on our lottie site,at the back of us,

[Two_Sheds]

If you suspect rats, mint apparently is a deterrent.

I'd been told that mint repels rodents, specifically mice.

Well, my mice ate a four-pack of Polos in the garage, so it's a myth