Author Topic: First Time my fruit has ever been eaten by something out there (Read 13926 times)

natsgarden123 · « **on:** August 11, 2012, 03:47:54 PM »

Very neat eater.... this has never happened before...

HMHausman · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2012, 04:07:17 PM »

I've never seen that level of thoroughness in a pineapple eating. Racoons will clean a mango completely. Birds will peck their way into a fruit and take it right down to the seed. But this fruit looks like it has more thorough, behind the core removal of the sweet flesh. I suspect there are some insects involved in this theft. Maybe not initially. But once the fruit was torn open by birds or racoons, I think that some insects finished the job. Am I seeing this corredctly? Is the flesh completely gone behind the core?

Harry

Patrick · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2012, 04:19:38 PM »

Holy cow! Thats a sweet treat. Looks like racoon damage..

Jackfruitwhisperer69 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 11, 2012, 04:24:09 PM »

Hi Natsgarden,

Yikes

These critters went through the works to savour ever last bit of your pineapple

I hope this doesn't happen to the others...6 month wait...for an eaten pinapple

!

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 11, 2012, 04:24:46 PM »

No insects involved for sure. This was a beautiful intact fruit which was going to be picked today. I've been checking it every day and it was perfect. This happened last night. Doubt bugs unless they are incredibly fast...

fruitlovers · « **Reply #5 on:** August 11, 2012, 06:02:50 PM »

Mice and rat's damage to pineapples here is very common. They are small enough to crawl into the fruit and chew it behind the core like that.

Bonakyon · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2012, 06:28:40 PM »

Looks like the work of rodents... But could be fruit bats as well. Keep an eye on other ripening fruit. Fruit bats love papayas and fruit that are higher up. Rodents will consume low lying or mostly ground level stuff... I'm leaning toward rodents on this one but if there aren't any other fruit ripening at the moment in the yard I wouldn't discard fruit bats.

fruitlovers · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2012, 06:31:50 PM »

Quote from: Bonakyon on August 11, 2012, 06:28:40 PM

Looks like the work of rodents... But could be fruit bats as well. Keep an eye on other ripening fruit. Fruit bats love papayas and fruit that are higher up. Rodents will consume low lying or mostly ground level stuff... I'm leaning toward rodents on this one but if there aren't any other fruit ripening at the moment in the yard I wouldn't discard fruit bats.

Fruit bats in Florida??

Bonakyon · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2012, 06:37:40 PM »

There are a lot of invasive reptile species in florida. Bats are the favorite food of some snakes. If the snakes were brought in... Could not the fruit bats have been introduced as well..?

cbss_daviefl · « **Reply #9 on:** August 11, 2012, 06:38:57 PM »

Sorry to see that. I have been leaving my pineapples out until they hit the peak, very fragrant for a few days, without issue. I guess the rodents haven't figured it out yet.

Jack, Nipomo · « **Reply #10 on:** August 11, 2012, 06:41:52 PM »

Fruit has characteristic damage due to tree rats (roof rats, rattus rattus). Sweet fruits they will eat the inside leaving the peel, as in oranges. In a lemon they eat the peel, leaving the fruit hanging without the peel. Husks of oranges or other sweet citrus fruits are a telltale for this rat. It is nocturnal, arboreal, and rarely seen. In my macadamias the nuts are eaten by chewing a hole in the shell. Look carefully at the fruit to see if you can see the parallel lines of the rodent's teeth. This rat is not the Norway rat, but an import nevertheless. If traps are used for arboreal rats, designs must be implemented to protect birds. Poisons cause secondary poisoning. Last year I trapped 50, this year I am up to 32. Quite familiar with the little beasts. Sorry about your pineapple.

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 11, 2012, 06:42:29 PM »

I have been growing pineapple for 10 years and this is the first time I have ever seen anything like this...

Doubt its a bat since I have never seen a bat here....I haven't seen any rats ever in our neighborhood ever, although they could be lurking.

We do have a very large population of squirrels, raccoons and possums.

We put bricks on the garbage cans so the raccoons can't get in; maybe this is their revenge... Would a net help?

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2012, 06:49:30 PM »

Just picked 2 of my babies a few days early.... to save them from a similar fate! The one on the left could have used a week ( Ill let it sit out )-the one on the right is ripe.

Carbo · « **Reply #13 on:** August 11, 2012, 06:52:11 PM »

Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 11, 2012, 06:42:29 PM

....I haven't seen any rats ever in our neighborhood ever, although they could be lurking.

Now that surprises me to no end. South FL, like most warm, wet regions, are crawling with rats. I'm in Broward and just yesterday my cat brought me one in the garage and I had another go for a trap in the attic baited with good ol' Slim Jim. You may not see 'em, but I guarantee they are well populated in your area.

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 11, 2012, 07:22:23 PM »

Quote from: Carbo on August 11, 2012, 06:52:11 PM

Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 11, 2012, 06:42:29 PM
....I haven't seen any rats ever in our neighborhood ever, although they could be lurking.
Now that surprises me to no end. South FL, like most warm, wet regions, are crawling with rats. I'm in Broward and just yesterday my cat brought me one in the garage and I had another go for a trap in the attic baited with good ol' Slim Jim. You may not see 'em, but I guarantee they are well populated in your area.

oh yuck.. rats. I have honestly never seen one and Im happy about that.

phantomcrab · « **Reply #15 on:** August 11, 2012, 09:05:03 PM »

I've seen this many times before on citrus and pineapple and the culprit (or one of them) is tree rats (aka fruit rats). They are nocturnal and you don't see them often. Not much a problem for me since there is a nesting pair of sharp shinned hawks in a pine tree down the block, screech owls nest next door and some neighborhood cats roam at night. I find beheaded rats and rat parts on a weekly basis around my yard when the owls occasionally drop them. Solution: put up an owl nest box and cage your ripening pineapples.
There is also a nesting pair of bald eagles a few miles away that visit from time to time and decimate the squirrel population but that's another thread....
Bald Eagle with squirrel breakfast

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 11, 2012, 09:17:07 PM »

Quote from: phantomcrab on August 11, 2012, 09:05:03 PM

I've seen this many times before on citrus and pineapple and the culprit (or one of them) is tree rats (aka fruit rats). They are nocturnal and you don't see them often. Not much a problem for me since there is a nesting pair of sharp shinned hawks in a pine tree down the block, screech owls nest next door and some neighborhood cats roam at night. I find beheaded rats and rat parts on a weekly basis around my yard when the owls occasionally drop them. Solution: put up an owl nest box and cage your ripening pineapples.
There is also a nesting pair of bald eagles a few miles away that visit from time to time and decimate the squirrel population but that's another thread....
Bald Eagle with squirrel breakfast

Great photo!

fruitlovers · « **Reply #17 on:** August 11, 2012, 09:27:41 PM »

Quote from: Bonakyon on August 11, 2012, 06:37:40 PM

There are a lot of invasive reptile species in florida. Bats are the favorite food of some snakes. If the snakes were brought in... Could not the fruit bats have been introduced as well..?

Snakes and other reptiles mostly introduced by the pet trade, and when people get tired of them they let them loose. Not too many pet stores in USA selling fruit bats!

Dangermouse01 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 11, 2012, 09:31:22 PM »

Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 11, 2012, 04:24:46 PM

This was a beautiful intact fruit which was going to be picked today. I've been checking it every day and it was perfect.

That's the way it usually is with my pineapples. The day I go out to pick it, I find that something has got to it the night before. Usually chews the heck out of it, or drags it away closer to cover for the feast. At least about 95% of the time I can recover the top and at least get another plant.

DM

zands · « **Reply #19 on:** August 11, 2012, 09:36:25 PM »

Quote from: Dangermouse01 on August 11, 2012, 09:31:22 PM

Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 11, 2012, 04:24:46 PM
This was a beautiful intact fruit which was going to be picked today. I've been checking it every day and it was perfect.
That's the way it usually is with my pineapples. The day I go out to pick it, I find that something has got to it the night before. Usually chews the heck out of it, or drags it away closer to cover for the feast. At least about 95% of the time I can recover the top and at least get another plant.

DM

So why not cage in hardware cloth AKA 1/4" steel mesh

Bananimal · « **Reply #20 on:** August 11, 2012, 10:51:27 PM »

Sorry for your fruit loss Nancy. I recently saw a rat in the yard. I think this could be the type of critter that got my Pickerings sitting close to the ground. Have been experimenting with my Havahart one door trap by tossing in different fruits to the back of the cage just beyond the trip paddle. First was a whole Tommy Atkins. Each day found some of the fruit eaten but the door was not tripped shut. When all the fruit was eaten I removed the pit and threw in an old apple. Same thing --- took the critter 3 days to finish that one. There is no way a big fat old racoon, or a rabbit, or possum could chew on the fruit and not step on the paddle. So it must be ratz.

A couple of years ago I tried setting a plastic rat trap on the paddle with peanut butter packed in the bait hole. Caught everything in the book. Rats, possums, birds, a squirrel and a rabbit.

Guess I'l try this setup again. Hate to do it -- it can be messy. If you try this setup I'll bet you'll find you got rats.

Keep bringing in the fruit a little early. Dan

Jack, Nipomo · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2012, 10:13:00 AM »

Tree rats (fruit rats, black rats, palm rats, attic rats, roof rats, etc) are rattus rattus, an arboreal rat, nocturnal in nature. Few people know they have them until they experience some fruit damage. Many attribute the damage to other critters, but the damage is classic. See http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw120. In April we had over 100 people at our place for a CRFG tour. I showed them a trap, rat damage, and how to control them. Folks duplicated the trap arrangement, hung them in their trees, and caught many tree rats. E-mails went around with photos, measurements, and rat competition. These rats rarely go on the ground, living in trees. The traps I use (20 of them) are normal rat traps screwed to an 8 ft 1X2. Trigger baited with a macadamia nut (drilled for attachment) facing down. A deck screw is attached to the opposite side of the trap at the top of the pole enabling it to be hooked up in a tree. That's it. But....birds will get killed too, so I encircle the trap with 1/2 in hardware cloth, open at both ends. Rats get in, caught. Birds stay out. Sometimes predators will eat most of the rat-on-a-stick, but usually are simply dropped into a hole for future fertilizer. The link shows the considerable problems caused by these rats. A neighbor has them in his attic and NO pest control operator has been able to get them. He is afraid of poison resulting in the stench of death. So he hears them running around every night. They are there, even if you don't see them. The reproductive rate is fast. Good luck with this worthy adversary.

Jack, Nipomo · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2012, 10:19:27 AM »

If the link doesn't work for you, Google "tree rats Florida"

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 12, 2012, 12:38:56 PM »

My husband swear its squirrels: -we have huge families of them- they are ornery : they will run in the street and stop right in the middle- defiant and daring y one to run them over.

Mr. Clean · « **Reply #24 on:** August 12, 2012, 01:39:16 PM »

Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 12, 2012, 12:38:56 PM

My husband swear its squirrels: -we have huge families of them- they are ornery : they will run in the street and stop right in the middle- defiant and daring y one to run them over.

...some times you have to take the dare...

My sympathy on the loss of your pineapple.

bsbullie · « **Reply #25 on:** August 12, 2012, 03:02:57 PM »

ok, I will fess up...since I was cheated out of one of your previous pineapples I had to take matters into my own hands

fruitlovers · « **Reply #26 on:** August 12, 2012, 06:34:26 PM »

Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 12, 2012, 12:38:56 PM

My husband swear its squirrels: -we have huge families of them- they are ornery : they will run in the street and stop right in the middle- defiant and daring y one to run them over.

Very easy to tell apart from size of tooth marks left on the fruit. I guessed rat because your pineapple looks very small. It looks like the culprit had to completely crawl inside the fruit to chew back part of the core.

BMc · « **Reply #27 on:** August 12, 2012, 06:44:08 PM »

Quote from: Bonakyon on August 11, 2012, 06:28:40 PM

Looks like the work of rodents... But could be fruit bats as well. Keep an eye on other ripening fruit. Fruit bats love papayas and fruit that are higher up. Rodents will consume low lying or mostly ground level stuff... I'm leaning toward rodents on this one but if there aren't any other fruit ripening at the moment in the yard I wouldn't discard fruit bats.

Fruit bats dont often take pineapples, too close to the ground. They'll stay up in the trees and away from the dogs, cats, humans and reptiles unless they are starving. They also generally make a terrible mess. The one thing that does lure them low is over ripe Jaboticaba - they just cant hwelp themselves and will climb down from the top of the tree to the ground for the sickly sweet smelling ones. Tree rats are usually to blame for this sort of damage. I've seen them eat themselves temporary accommodation in Papaya.

GwenninPR · « **Reply #28 on:** August 12, 2012, 07:25:30 PM »

Doesn't bode well for future fruit...once they know a source for a yummy treat, they will return.

BluePalm · « **Reply #29 on:** August 12, 2012, 07:56:14 PM »

I'll put my $ on raccoons and/or opossums. In 4-5 years of growing pineapples here, I have harvested TWO out of approximately 60 fruit. Last year I had 16 pineapples eaten in 1 night...and they were still green!!! Starting last year I started baiting a Hav a hart trap with pineapple slices and I caught 2 opossums and 2 racoons. The pineapple decimation stopped...until 3 nights ago when 2 almost ripe ones were eaten clean.

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #30 on:** August 13, 2012, 09:07:14 AM »

Quote from: bsbullie on August 12, 2012, 03:02:57 PM

ok, I will fess up...since I was cheated out of one of your previous pineapples I had to take matters into my own hands

That was your pineapple!!

( ps - the 2 that I picked were grown in a different part of my yard without any sun-amazing that they grew at all, and they tasted BAD - both were thrown out.)

Tropicdude · « **Reply #31 on:** August 13, 2012, 11:32:11 AM »

I believe this was done by the dreaded "Chupapiña" lesser known relative of the Chupacabra.

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #32 on:** August 13, 2012, 12:14:49 PM »

Quote from: BluePalm on August 12, 2012, 07:56:14 PM

I'll put my $ on raccoons and/or opossums. In 4-5 years of growing pineapples here, I have harvested TWO out of approximately 60 fruit. Last year I had 16 pineapples eaten in 1 night...and they were still green!!! Starting last year I started baiting a Hav a hart trap with pineapple slices and I caught 2 opossums and 2 racoons. The pineapple decimation stopped...until 3 nights ago when 2 almost ripe ones were eaten clean.

Raccoons ( the size of large dogs- yeah, huge), possums are everywhere.... How close to the pineapples did you put the Hav a hart thing?

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #33 on:** August 14, 2012, 09:47:59 AM »

any thoughts on this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dewitt-0-25-Bird-Barricade-Deluxe-Netting-/110932972956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item19d41ed59c#ht_1700wt_1006

BluePalm · « **Reply #34 on:** August 14, 2012, 12:10:11 PM »

I put the Hav a hart trap in the pineapple patch.

Mr. Clean · « **Reply #35 on:** August 14, 2012, 03:37:36 PM »

Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 14, 2012, 09:47:59 AM

any thoughts on this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dewitt-0-25-Bird-Barricade-Deluxe-Netting-/110932972956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item19d41ed59c#ht_1700wt_1006

I think a racoon or squirrel could chew through that netting.

fruitlovers · « **Reply #36 on:** August 14, 2012, 05:26:44 PM »

Netting only good for birds. Any critter with teeth can easily get in. Even the birds sometimes get through it. I saw one cardinal slip under it. Big mistake as my cat was also watching and she went in and had a nice meal before i could intervene.
I find netting to be a big pain the you know what. You have to remove it anytime you want to get in or to do any weeding. Also the vines here think you've set up a perfect espalier for them.

phantomcrab · « **Reply #37 on:** August 15, 2012, 10:21:42 AM »

Quote

Also the vines here think you've set up a perfect espalier for them.

How true this is.

Mr. Clean · « **Reply #38 on:** August 15, 2012, 10:56:32 AM »

DELETED

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #39 on:** August 15, 2012, 11:33:31 AM »

Quote from: Mr. Clean on August 15, 2012, 10:56:32 AM

Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 14, 2012, 09:47:59 AM
any thoughts on this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dewitt-0-25-Bird-Barricade-Deluxe-Netting-/110932972956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item19d41ed59c#ht_1700wt_1006

Natalie,

I understand your frustration. You might look into traps that can catch squirrels, rats, possoms, and racoons.

What happens to the animal which are trapped? I don't have the heart to do it... I'm going to think about caging in my pineapples...if I can get my husband to build one for me

Mr. Clean · « **Reply #40 on:** August 15, 2012, 12:28:23 PM »

DELETED

zands · « **Reply #41 on:** August 15, 2012, 12:36:55 PM »

Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 15, 2012, 11:33:31 AM

Quote from: Mr. Clean on August 15, 2012, 10:56:32 AM
Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 14, 2012, 09:47:59 AM
any thoughts on this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dewitt-0-25-Bird-Barricade-Deluxe-Netting-/110932972956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item19d41ed59c#ht_1700wt_1006

Natalie,

I understand your frustration. You might look into traps that can catch squirrels, rats, possoms, and racoons.

What happens to the animal which are trapped? I don't have the heart to do it... I'm going to think about caging in my pineapples...if I can get my husband to build one for me

You drown the rats and squirrels. They are rodents..... I have no problem doing this.The possums are cute marsupials so they get relocated. Possums are less abundant here but rats and squirrels have too much food so multiply quickly

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #42 on:** August 15, 2012, 01:08:35 PM »

Quote from: zands on August 15, 2012, 12:36:55 PM

Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 15, 2012, 11:33:31 AM
Quote from: Mr. Clean on August 15, 2012, 10:56:32 AM
Quote from: natsgarden123 on August 14, 2012, 09:47:59 AM
any thoughts on this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dewitt-0-25-Bird-Barricade-Deluxe-Netting-/110932972956?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item19d41ed59c#ht_1700wt_1006

Natalie,

I understand your frustration. You might look into traps that can catch squirrels, rats, possoms, and racoons.

What happens to the animal which are trapped? I don't have the heart to do it... I'm going to think about caging in my pineapples...if I can get my husband to build one for me

You drown the rats and squirrels. They are rodents..... I have no problem doing this.The possums are cute marsupials so they get relocated. Possums are less abundant here but rats and squirrels have too much food so multiply quickly

DROWN the squirrels? ? What happens to the raccoons, dare I ask...

As far as the cage-it would be for the entire pineapple patch- worth a lot more than $3 since you cant buy these incredibly delicious fruit

phantomcrab · « **Reply #43 on:** August 15, 2012, 02:58:57 PM »

I've never tried this but it sure looks good and seems easy to make. This was posted on the forum previously but I can't find it now.
http://www.sarasotafruitandnutsociety.org/information/edlincages.htm

natsgarden123 · « **Reply #44 on:** August 15, 2012, 03:35:41 PM »

Quote from: phantomcrab on August 15, 2012, 02:58:57 PM

I've never tried this but it sure looks good and seems easy to make. This was posted on the forum previously but I can't find it now.
http://www.sarasotafruitandnutsociety.org/information/edlincages.htm

Thanks-Im going to try this..look easy enough...

I love the other suggestion! Or, get a recipe for honey-roasted squirrels stuffed with macadamia nuts.

Mr. Clean · « **Reply #45 on:** August 15, 2012, 09:30:13 PM »

DELETED

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Author Topic: First Time my fruit has ever been eaten by something out there (Read 13926 times)

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