It was slim pickin's for this week's harvest, but we were able to pick one and three quarter pounds of Swiss Chard!
Now for an unusual problem I'm having this year.
It would appear that some type of critter is wreaking havoc in my garden. I have dozens of holes dug into the soil all over the garden!
Some are elongated like this one...
...and some are just round like ALL OF THESE!
The crazy thing is... there are no footprints in the soft soil surrounding the main holes! No trails through the garden from one hole to another. Nothing! The other thing that stumps me is that these are dug during the night.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this situation? I'm getting ready to set out my traps to catch this midnight marauder, so any info on what may be causing it would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking raccoon or opossum, but these are so large they would have to leave some type of trail through the soft soil. The same goes for a skunk. We live in a large metropolitan city, so I'm really at a loss for what is causing this. If it were rats, there would be other evidence of their presence. I wonder if toads would be this extreme while digging their homes? Also, all the holes are approximately the same depth.
Any thoughts you would like to share on this matter would be appreciated.
P.S. It isn't Molly either!
Be sure to visit DaphnesDandelions for more exciting gardening experiences in a northern growing zone
Thanks for visiting, and have a great vegetable gardening day!
Veggie PAK
Wow, that's a lot of holes. I've had holes dug by dogs in the garden but they were a lot messier looking. Makes me think it's an underground varmint. Do your vegetables look like they've been messed with?
ReplyDeleteOh dear. I hope you find your culprit. For me the squirrels dig holes every spring looking for the acorns they have stashed. But I've never seen so many holes as that before.
ReplyDeleteThey look like the type of holes I've seen in my garden (in Gloucester, VA) that are caused by moles or voles. I bet that's the cause.
ReplyDeleteI don't think toads would dig so many holes, unless of course you are over run with them. My next guess would be skunks looking for worms. Other than that just not too sure! My other thought is birds in the very early morning,before you are outside?????
ReplyDeleteMoles? Voles? Looks like an inside job.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't moles or voles since the holes are dug from the top and none of them go far down. They are all about two to two and a half inches deep and then stop. They don't turn into tunnels. The vegetables have not been bothered at all. Since we've had Molly here, I have seen one squirrel come into the yard. Unless the squirrels all moved, the scent of Molly is helping keep them away. They can't be caused by skunks because we have a six foot high privacy fence around the entire back yard. The holes are too neat for birds to have made, and it was done at night.
ReplyDeleteThe next night there were no new holes. The night after that, there were only six new holes. I don't see any new ones today. At least my veggies aren't being tampered with.
Have a great vegetable gardening day!
Veggie PAK
I think it's some kind of rodent...it looks like something was sitting and digging for something. I would go for squirrel looking for something tasty :) From what I saw before squirrels can walk without leaving footprints.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late reply.
DeleteAs quickly as the holes started showing up, they stopped. I think you're right. I'm going with blaming those pesky squirrels! There were baby ones next door, so maybe they were practicing their digging technique. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your comment with me!