From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Santa Cruz, CA

Last year we had a problem with squirrels biting into our baby pumpkins and damaging them so much that they soon aborted. It happened on multiple occasions and was very frustrating. Any tricks or tips to protecting the baby pumpkin from the long toothed pests?

6/7/2009 3:26:34 PM

Ontario

I had a racoon bite my baby pumpkin last year...the night after culling everything else.......So I wrapped the baby pumpkin with bird netting, worked great for me...just wrap around your young kin...any growth will push it out.....I kept the bird netting around the pumpkin all year...to keep any birds or critters away...good luck.... Bryan

6/7/2009 4:00:29 PM

milford, CT,

I've had similar problems in the past...I use small laundry baskets..easily removed and very effective. Mark

6/7/2009 4:23:04 PM

Simi valley, ca

I also experienced squirrel damage On baby pumpkin but it survived ! To protect when small use paint strainers 5 gallon size you can put it over & secure with squires !

6/7/2009 7:09:20 PM

Minnesota

a raccoon took a bite out of my pumpkin last year also, he must not ofliked the taste, took one bite, left claw marks and left.

6/7/2009 8:28:14 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I use small laundry baskets like Milford and trap the squirrels to get rid of them.

Not only will they bite into the small pumpkins but they will also bite off the ends of your vines.

The guy from the garlic barrier company suggested mixing hot chili powder with the garlic barrier and spraying that.

6/7/2009 8:42:24 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Thanks for all the great ideas! I'll give them a try. The squirrels didn't bother the end of the vines last year but then again they never bit into the baby pumpkins until last year and we've been doing this for seven. There is a creek nearby so I'm thinking they must not be thirsty just rascally. Last year we also had a bird take a peck out of the baby on the 1502. By the time the pumpkin has grown to its 814lbs the peck scare was the size of my fist.

6/7/2009 9:10:46 PM

Ohio

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=50533

6/8/2009 4:13:17 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Bait them into a have a heart trap with peanut butter. Relocate them or I train them.......Good Luck....

6/8/2009 8:57:28 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Ya Brooks, that was a bad year for me and the squirrels.

Wiz, those traps work great, but I had so many that the relocation program was costing me too much in gas money. That is why I started the swimming lessons.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=83683

6/8/2009 10:37:10 AM

North Smithfield, RI

Woodchucks will chew on the small pumpkins and eat the vine tips.

6/8/2009 5:39:46 PM