Q. I have a raised planter box with my tomatoes doing
quite well. Some critter is raiding these tomatoes nearly every night and
removing the fruit. I found one of my larger heirloom beauties half-eaten and
dropped outside the box about 20′ from the plant! What kind of critter might be
big enough and strong enough to do this?
quite well. Some critter is raiding these tomatoes nearly every night and
removing the fruit. I found one of my larger heirloom beauties half-eaten and
dropped outside the box about 20′ from the plant! What kind of critter might be
big enough and strong enough to do this?
 |
| I think this is ground squirrel damage to the fruit but the incisor damage would be similar to a rat. |
A. I would first suspect rats. Rats are common throughout
the Valley, probably the second worst problem after birds, and they will eat
anything from fruit and citrus to vegetables including tomatoes and even fresh
compost ingredients. Normally, though, they eat fruit still attached to the vine,
but they can carry the fruit if they must. But damage to the fruit, because of
their teeth, is telling.
the Valley, probably the second worst problem after birds, and they will eat
anything from fruit and citrus to vegetables including tomatoes and even fresh
compost ingredients. Normally, though, they eat fruit still attached to the vine,
but they can carry the fruit if they must. But damage to the fruit, because of
their teeth, is telling.
 |
| Not a tomato but Hachiya persimmon with bird damage. Notice the distinct bird pecking in the fruit. |
The two
types of rats present are the roof rat and Norway rat, with the smaller roof
rat being more common. Regardless, these critters go after ripe, or nearly ripe
fruit. If food becomes scarce, then these critters will go after unripened
fruit as well.
types of rats present are the roof rat and Norway rat, with the smaller roof
rat being more common. Regardless, these critters go after ripe, or nearly ripe
fruit. If food becomes scarce, then these critters will go after unripened
fruit as well.
Two
nonlethal strategies that might work include getting rid of any hiding places
such as low-lying and dense shrubbery or piles of debris and harvesting fruit
before it becomes fully ripe. Harvest tomatoes when they are still green,
provided the green fruit is starting to change color, and they will still ripen
off the vine. This color change occurs first near its attachment to the mother plant,
called the “shoulder”, and spreads over the rest of the fruit as it ripens.
Harvesting fruit early reduces the chance critters will eat them.
nonlethal strategies that might work include getting rid of any hiding places
such as low-lying and dense shrubbery or piles of debris and harvesting fruit
before it becomes fully ripe. Harvest tomatoes when they are still green,
provided the green fruit is starting to change color, and they will still ripen
off the vine. This color change occurs first near its attachment to the mother plant,
called the “shoulder”, and spreads over the rest of the fruit as it ripens.
Harvesting fruit early reduces the chance critters will eat them.
Rats are
good climbers so if you enclose a tomato plant with a cage to restrict their
smorgasbord opportunities, use hardware cloth with holes smaller in diameter
than your thumb but large enough to allow pollinator entry.
good climbers so if you enclose a tomato plant with a cage to restrict their
smorgasbord opportunities, use hardware cloth with holes smaller in diameter
than your thumb but large enough to allow pollinator entry.
There is
a lot of information on the Internet concerning repellents from mothballs to
Fox urine. Like any information on the Internet, you are likely to have mixed
results so be aware.
a lot of information on the Internet concerning repellents from mothballs to
Fox urine. Like any information on the Internet, you are likely to have mixed
results so be aware.
Regarding
lethal strategies, snap traps seem to work the best and maybe the safest method
to use if other animals are around.
lethal strategies, snap traps seem to work the best and maybe the safest method
to use if other animals are around.