I need a shoulder to cry on...

5 years ago

This year, despite the two late freezes that we had, my plum trees set a lot of fruit for the first time, and my 3 Romance cherry bushes had a good crop also.

Just when the cherries were ready to pick, a critter (probably a raccoon) discovered a way past the netting and ate 90% of the fruit - in one night!!

I got the sturdier, more expensive knitted netting, and wrapped up the potted french plum, and tried to protect as much as I could of the in ground plum (unknown variety, when I bought it bareroot/dormant, it was supposed to be a dwarf apple) which is too large to cover completely. I didn't bother protecting the heavily fruiting native plum - hoped it would be a decoy. I also sprayed repellent on the trees.

But no, the critter first went for the unknown variety plum and in the end defeated the netting and completely cleaned it off of dozens of small green plums over the course of 2 nights. Not one ripe plum for me.

Then 3 nights later, after repeated attempts, he pulled a hole in the netting wrapping of the french plum and completely cleared it of a couple of dozen unripe plums.

I am so upset!

He has still ignored the native plums, although in the past he (or a cousin) has feasted on it. I am sure he will get around to it soon... but...

Now he is trying to get at the apples. After losing all of them last year to the critter attack (while still green and small!), I built a cage out of chicken wire to surround the 7 potted apples. I found one apple pulled off the tree (still in its mesh bag) today, but I think I found where he got in under the fencing. Hopefully I secured it well enough.

I will spend more $$ on netting, trying to fight off this marauder than I would spend buying plums, cherries and apples at the organic store! :( :( :(

Featured Answer

otcay

5 years ago

I thought we already have laws in the books against theft.

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Comments (10)

Kevin Reilly
5 years ago
Thats a major downer sorry it happened. an electric fence is best deterrent for coons/possum/etc. you could just have it on dusk to dawn if you are worried fir pets/kids
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio thanked Kevin Reilly
vgkg Z-7 Va
5 years ago
A Hav-a-Hart trap would be a good investment to get rid of one rouge critter today and others in the future, they can't chew their way out. Nets for the most part are only good for deterring birds.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio thanked vgkg Z-7 Va
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porkchop_z5b_MI
5 years ago
Aw, that SUCKS! Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio thanked porkchop_z5b_MI
Ken "Fruity Paws" (N-Va 7a)
5 years ago
The birds and squirrels have stolen all my pears. They're steeling my persimmons. They've nabbed my first round of figs. The rabbits have been around on my blackberries. I feel your pain. The only thing that hasn't been terrorizing my garden and fruits is deer.

You can get a paintball gun with hot pepper balls. I have used them in the past with good results. If you can't tolerate a bit of pepper, might not be a good solution.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio thanked Ken "Fruity Paws" (N-Va 7a)
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
Original Author
5 years ago
Re paintball gun - I would also need night vision goggles, good aim and the ability to stay up all night LOL LOL!
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
Original Author
5 years ago
I am going to look into getting a trap. It has cleaned off the native plum now, and is continuing its assault on the apples - pulling them off of the trees, but not eating them because they are all bagged. I thought I had found the spot where he was getting into the frame, because he went a couple of days without , but he has found another way in.

I did succeed in getting my ripe grapes (just 3 small bunches) before they were discovered, and the fig is the front of the house so it has been safe - so far.
Kevin Reilly
5 years ago
you can trap all you want but nature abhors a vacuum new animals will quickly move in. a hot wire is best because it excludes the animals from the fruiting plants
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio thanked Kevin Reilly
nancyjane_gardener
5 years ago
Check your local ordinances. It may be illegal to move a wild animal to a different place!
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio thanked nancyjane_gardener
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
Original Author
5 years ago
Well, so far so good with the reinforced cage around the apples. I may actually get a few to eat myself!

I will need a better plan for next year, though.

You are right, nancyjane, it is illegal here as well. They don't want us moving raccoons that may have distemper, for example (had a big outbreak last summer in the neighborhood - many dead raccoons from it)