I've had rabbits do that but not squirrels. But it would not surprise me.

I'd suspect rabbits also. Were the plants low on the ground or up high on something?

I havent seen any crows around lately but there are lots of other birds. Lol @ crows nipping the weeds! They are pretty smart so maybe you could teach them haha.

They are on the ground but in a fenced in area in my veggie garden. Its wire fencing so maybe a baby rabbit could squeeze through. I will have to check the perimeter for holes dug under. We have a lot of squirrels around so I initially thought squirrels. We do have rabbits but they usually stay away from the garden and house area due to our cats.

I may have to cover them with some upside down milk crates grr

I have radishes nearby and the cucumbers...one would think rabbits would go for those too. Its so frustrating

I've had all sorts of trouble with basil, at first I suspected it was the cats around my neighbourhood but caught a rabbit in the act not long after!

Did you rule out cutworms?

Carol, I have no clue but these were just thin seedlings all coming up together..just sprouted with the top leaves just bit off all the same place..just stems left sticking up. Nothing ate the sunflower seedlings or cucumbers, radishes nasturtiums, dill, lemon balm, or catnip. Just all the basils whaaa. lol

Its just odd. I moved them up high, off the ground and the damage has stopped.

I have some nice pots of large leaf Italian basil and as I type I am watching 2 rabbits in my yard hoping they don't get it. I put right up close to the house because last year something ate it before it ever got to a decent size

Right after Sultry posted this a light bulb went off in my head. My mini-scheffelera

plants in pots on the ground were getting nibbled a little each night- to the point of

de-leafing some stems. Because I have a bunny rabbit nursery here, I decided

they must be the culprits so I put those pots up on shelves off the ground.

Sure enough, no more nibbling. It's the bunnies out there trying new plants.

Sultry, you probably have more bunnies than you ever see. Mine hide until

after dark so I don't see them unless I scare them out during the day. And surprisingly the kitties and new rescue dog don't seem to bother them. The

dog smells them and is curious but I'm training her to "leave it".

I might have some babies getting into the garden at night or early morning. I kinda thought rabbits too after this thread. They havent touched my radishes though *yet*. If I do have bunnies, Im glad they have a safe place to hide.

I purposely left some new common basil sprouts out by where one of my baby chicks got into the garden. She dug all around but didnt touch the basil. Usually my chickens hate basil, mint, organo etc. I've only had one hen in 10 yrs that would go to the chocolate mint plant and take a bite, every morning. I guess she wanted to freshen her breath LOL!