What is knocking down my corn?

8 years ago

I am frustrated. Why does corn never work for me?
This year, I have (hopefully) avoided lodging from wind by watering less frequently so that the roots will dig deeper. I have ATTEMPTED to keep the critters out by installing an electric fence that is love from dusk to dawn.
Still, something is knocking down my stalks. Some are bent at the base, some are snapped somewhere up the stalk. I don't see any teeth marks. There are no ears yet. Not even close. We have no deer. We have raccoons and rabbits, but wouldn't the electric fence work? And what do they want with the plain old stalks? It feels like it's been 4 years of mostly failure. I just want to get this right for once!

Featured Answer

gumby_ct

8 years ago

< just don't use a havahart trap if you think it's a skunk,>

IME skunks are very passive and don't fear much - just don't startle them. One year I was trying to catch a family of coons coming up on the deck for fear they would come right thru the screen door in search of food. During that process I ended up with 16 skunks, 1 possum. 1 blue jay, and 1 feral kitten - ALL before catching the coons.

I would just talk so the skunks knew I was coming, placed a barrier over the cage before moving them - talking the whole time.

After transport, sometimes inside the car, the skunks would just waddle away after placing them down. The hardest thing to get out of the trap was the possum cuz he wanted to play 'possum'.

I just could not believe that many skunks were passing thru here - prob more, I stopped after I got my targets and never had the urge to trap anything else again, well 'cept squirrels but would always, always, always trip the trap at sundown to avoid the curious nite time critters.

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Comments (8)

digdirt2
8 years ago
The stalks are a good source of moisture for various varmints and many of them can easily go under or over or through an electric fence depending on how it is set up. Raccoons are very smart at eluding difficulties and they learn quickly. So do ground hogs. Then there is the problem with crows.

Also don't assume they only work at night, especially if no one is around in the daytime.

Dave
turnage (8a TX)
8 years ago
You might want to get an inexpensive game camera to identify the culprit. Or if you have friends that hunt, they might have a camera you could borrow. I have a cheap Moultrie and it takes a decent picture at night.
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n2xjk
8 years ago
All it would take is a murder of crows or a murmuration of starlings to land on your corn in mass for a few moments to make a mess of it.
bcomplx
8 years ago
Sounds like the coons are checking out the plants. I'd dust the area with cayenne pepper to communicate with them. Cheap cheap at ethnic markets.
gumby_ct
8 years ago
I would also guess coons or even squirrels.

If you go the camera route check out the Arlo wireless cameras. Pricey but if you look for the older models you may save some.

I started with a Stealth the Game Camera which does work well but for me the problem is you have to get the SD card each time to see what is on it. Either that or spend more to get a viewer which still means you have to go to the camera.

With the Arlo cams you can view it online - so cell phone on their app or your computer in almost real time access. Even get a text when it senses motion.

Again Arlo is pricey but also good to keep an eye on who is trying to get into your car, house, or picking up your packages.

Honestly, you will be surprised to see what goes on after sundown.
vgkg Z-7 Va
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Not sure of your location or even if my corn flopping problem is related to yours but I've had to reset my corn 3 times so far this season due to heavy rains and high winds coming through. Nothing eaten just knocked over stalks. Right now I have then staked up, thankfully a small plot. Weather has become a new adventure every day ;-) In the past though I've had skunks stealing my corn, and squirrels too if they find it. I'd come out and find some ears peeled like a banana on unbroken stalks.

Good luck finding the answer, just don't use a havahart trap if you think it's a skunk, experience speaking :(
grandad_2003
8 years ago
I have an electric fence around my garden and it does not deter rabbits. They simply jump over the fence. Rabbits like the sweet corn stalks so if your corn has signs of being eaten, then rabbits would be my guess. (Our corn is finished for this season, so my current problem is with rabbits eating the red and yellow bell peppers.)

Another culprit might be squirrels. My fence is on a timer and is off during daylight hours. Squirrels like to use the top portion of corn stalks for nest building. So during the day they will raid the corn patch for nesting material. So this would also be a possibility.

Electric fences have worked great for me to control raccoons raiding the corn patch.