??Cause of mutilated and/or eaten tomotoes

[kchervey]

This morning we found two tomatoes on the ground that we had been watching. We were going to harvest them, but noticed they were eaten and/or mutilated.

I have seen bird pecked tomatoes, and worm eaten tomatoes, but these are something else.

I made pictures of one that you can see at the unprofessionally made web site: http://home.comcast.net/~rkherv/garden/tomatopics/index.html.

The pattern of missing tomato fruit/meat is somthing that looks like it was eaten by something with a mouth the size of a squirel.

We live in an area that is suburban.

The garden is in the backyard surrounded by hog wire fence to keep the dog out (he pretty much ignores it).

I am looking for help to identify what could have done this.

I need my tomatoes for MY FAMILY to eat.

Kent

[ZIPPER]

KC:

I thought about this one awhile and came up with this:

From what you said you had a tomato in late evening but not in the morning. Therefore I'd say it was not a bird or squirrel, sooo...

Try covering plant with the tree bird netting to form a barrier. If covering is torn over night, I'd say you have a larger animal, sooo...

Set out a live animal trap near by and bait with one of your unwanted tomatos. If you trap something you can now identify the bad guy. Relocate or call animal control for advise. Since you are not in the country, this one animal may be the only one you have to worry about.

[kchervey]

Thanks for the post reply.

So, you agree from the description and pictures that it was eaten by something?

I may do your trap idea (although I would like to avoid the expense and hassle).

I am flabbergasted as to what kind of animal would eat a tomato and appear be that large having made it past the wooden fence, the dog, and the hog wire. Seems like larger animals would want meat.

????

[Gar]

kchervey

Did you remove the pictures from the web site? When I click on the URL, you provided, I get the following error message: :(

Page URL Not Found!!

The requested page does not exist on this server. The URL you typed or followed is either outdated or inaccurate.

[kchervey]

I clicked the link myself, and got the same thing. Here is the problem, the period I used to end the sentence got included as part of the URL. When I deleted the period it came up.

Here it is again:
http://home.comcast.net/~rkherv/garden/tomatopics/index.html

(I was careful not to put a period that time) :D

This should also work:
http://home.comcast.net/~rkherv/garden/tomatopics

Thanks for pointing it out.

Kent

[mudman92045]

did not see your picture, could possibly be terrapins. tomatoes are usually eaten from the bottom. they will usually eat them at night.

[drchelo]

I have had a major problem with squirrels eating my vegetables and bulbs - and I have found some success with two organic solutions to the problems...
1. I put dog hair (I have four hairy beasts) all over the chicken wire surrounding the tomato patch. For planting bulbs, I put dog hair and Louisiana Hot sauce into the hole with each bulb...and this keeps the squirrels away from these.
2. A hint I got from one of Mr. Garret's television segments actually is a insect repellent - which also works as a squirrel repellent - is to blend together garlic and habanero peppers, strain the juice, and spray the plants. Squirrels HATE garlic and habaneros, and this will deter a lot of destructive pests.
drchelo

[ToddBosley]

Looks like the same problem I am having - a couple of weeks ago my dog cornered an oppossum in our garden. They tear up the veggies and I have heard that they suck the insides out of the cantaloupe (which I have coming in soon :cry: ).

Are traps the only way to get rid of these guys?

[jmeier]

it may not be "approved"...but I smacked one with a shovel on the backside a couple of weeks ago about 4 in the morning...hasn't been back since :roll: