Burrowing in potato bed

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by Scrungee, Jun 1, 2021.

  1. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

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    Nearly every morning for over 2 weeks I've been finding an approx. 30mm dia. steep hole burrowed down into the soil near the base of one of my potato plants, which I then fill in and firm down.

    Whatever is making it returns overnight and digs again. It's always the same position and same plant, never gets as far down as the tuber (it's deep) and happened when covered with fleece. Too small a hole for a rat.

    Whatever it is must be obsessed or insane. Have wondered about placing a small piece of fine mesh across where it digs, which is in precisely the same location every time, but will it then move on to another plant?

    IMG_20210530_195113498.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2021
  2. Spruce

    Spruce Glad to be back .....

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    that looks like squirrels
     
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    • Spruce

      Spruce Glad to be back .....

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      I use a bar of soap and a old cheese grater works a treat sprinkled on the area
       
    • Scrungee

      Scrungee Well known for it

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      Maybe there's some smelly nuts buried there?
       
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Foxes dig around mine every night.
       
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Just noticed quite a bit of damage, onion bent over, leaves off toms etc.

      I think the cubs are turning my plot into their play ground.
       
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      • Jiffy

        Jiffy The Match is on Fire

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        Voles???
        Sometimes when i dig up our spuds i usally find a toad in one of the row of spuds, nice and damp for them
         
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        • Scrungee

          Scrungee Well known for it

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          Right size hole, but I haven't known them dig up spuds before, only rats, and no idea why night after night it would burrow down about 5 - 6", not reach anything, return the next nigh, find the hole filled in and dig down to the same depth again and again and again. It must be a nutter - oh, back to squirrels again.


          After ducks?

          images.jpeg
           
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          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            Probably looking for worms.
             
          • WeeTam

            WeeTam Total Gardener

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            Fish blood and bone smell attracting the vermin?
             
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            • Scrungee

              Scrungee Well known for it

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              There is FB&B + potato fertlizer on all 36 potatoes, but whatever it is burrowing, it's only interested in the one plant.
               
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