#284189
Jun 4th, 2009 at 05:20 AM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 30,001
A Gnome's Best Friend
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OP
A Gnome's Best Friend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 30,001 |
Yesterday when I came home from work I noticed leaves gone and many stems gone from my palmeri plant in the half pot on my tree Some of the stems where chewed in half and were on the ground What in the world could have done this !!!!! Do squirrels eat plants?? I mean half the plant is Gone! Blooms stems and leaves BEFORE cactus%20and%20succulents/DSCN1057.jpg" alt="[Linked Image]" class="post-image" style="height:auto!important;max-width:100%!important;"/> AFTER cactus%20and%20succulents/whatseatingthis.jpg" alt="[Linked Image]" class="post-image" style="height:auto!important;max-width:100%!important;"/> What could have done this???
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 700
Miss. Farmer
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Miss. Farmer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 700 |
How high up is it? And do you have deer in the neighborhood?
"No crime is involved in plagiarizing nature's ways" (Edward H. Faulkner, 1943, "Plowman's Folly," University of Oklahoma Press).
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,430 Likes: 1
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 14,430 Likes: 1 |
Is there any sign of slugs or snails?
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 31,597
Purl One
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Purl One
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 31,597 |
Diane - mine looks just like that now, but it is from heavy rain. Have you had that recently?
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 30,001
A Gnome's Best Friend
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OP
A Gnome's Best Friend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 30,001 |
How high up is it? And do you have deer in the neighborhood? about 6 foot up and No deer I Live in the middle of a city, Is there any sign of slugs or snails? I took the pot down to look,, No snails and no slug trails on or in the pot or tree Diane - mine looks just like that now, but it is from heavy rain. Have you had that recently? Diane - mine looks just like that now, but it is from heavy rain. Have you had that recently? Yes But I've had hard pouring rain many many times , and that has never happened. There is definitely bite marks on these leaves,, cactus%20and%20succulents/bittenpalmeri.jpg" alt="[Linked Image]" class="post-image" style="height:auto!important;max-width:100%!important;"/>
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 31,597
Purl One
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Purl One
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 31,597 |
Yes you are right - that does look like bite marks. I would think squirrels then? Or do you have any other rodents or animals there that climb trees?
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 700
Miss. Farmer
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Miss. Farmer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 700 |
Raccoons? My experience is that critters go for succulents when they are thirsty. Squirrels are a definite possibility. But it seems odd that they'd be bothering this in the spring. Do you have any way to watch overnight?
"No crime is involved in plagiarizing nature's ways" (Edward H. Faulkner, 1943, "Plowman's Folly," University of Oklahoma Press).
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 30,001
A Gnome's Best Friend
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OP
A Gnome's Best Friend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 30,001 |
Yes you are right - that does look like bite marks. I would think squirrels then? Or do you have any other rodents or animals there that climb trees? Not that I know of! Rodent ~~ I've never seen a raccoon around here at all
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Deep Purple
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Deep Purple
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,477 |
raccoons are generally nocturnal - so are rarely seen. they do sometimes come out in the day time...especially if one of the babies falls out of the nest - which they make up in trees. and that would be something that they'd snack on.
could be skunks or maybe even opposum - both of those are nocturnal though, also. still, you do sometimes see them in the day. skunks can easily climb that tree (and opposum live in trees).
any really large dogs in the neighborhood that might have wandered into your yard and taken a taste?
Zone 6b
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Joined: Oct 2005
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A Gnome's Best Friend
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OP
A Gnome's Best Friend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 30,001 |
No Joclyn,, I have 3 ~ 7 ft fences and One 10 ft fence,, around the back yard so no dogs could have gotten in, I can see pretty much every big limb in the tree as well as branches,, so if Something is nesting up there it's well disguised
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Deep Purple
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Deep Purple
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,477 |
maybe a bird landed on it and broke it off?? maybe two were fighting/chasing each other and ended up running into your plant? the 'bite' marks could be from large claws or even a beak...did you find any pieces of it on the ground?
raccoons tend to build nests in hollows in trees, if you have any in that tree, then you might have a nest.
Zone 6b
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Joined: Oct 2005
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A Gnome's Best Friend
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OP
A Gnome's Best Friend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 30,001 |
Yep I did find two larger pieces on the ground , ,
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,477
Deep Purple
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Deep Purple
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,477 |
could have been a bird that tried to land on in (thinking it was sturdier than it is) and it broke off the pieces.
such a shame as it was in bloom...at least it'll grow back again!!
Zone 6b
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