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Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

Went out to the patch to find that a couple of the leaves on my freshest plant had been attacked. It looks like the animal grabbed the bottom of the stalk and peeled part of it upwards like peeling a banana. Didn't kill the leaf as 3/4 of the stem is still there and fine, but made it fall over. Also saw some shallow "holes" where it looks like it dug an inch deep and an inch or two around. I see where out-to-lunch had an issue but can't find his diary to compare the damage too. Does "naturally marking" ones territory work at keeping opossoms and raccoons out?

9/8/2006 12:56:51 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan (michiganpumpkins@sbcglobal.net)

Try some coyote urine. Worked great for me last year in an unfenced area where woodchucks were eating my fruit.

9/8/2006 7:00:10 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Has it been dry there? Critters looking for water sometimes do this. Use repellents & set some water nearby.

9/8/2006 7:52:26 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Do you have squirrels where you live? That is what they do to my plants as well....trap them and teach them to swim.

9/8/2006 3:27:30 PM

Manitoba

ya I didn't have a diary. My problem stemmed from Grey Squirels gnawing on my vines and stems. I tried putting out water and critter ridder but none of that worked. I also bought moth balls but backed out of putting those all over my yard. Didn't want them leaching into my soil. Next year I will trap the little bastards and relocate them. In my estimation I probably lost 50 or so leaves do to them. And the vine my 215 pounder grew on was half gnawed through in one spot. Who knows how much bigger the pumpkin could have grown. Hope this helps

9/9/2006 5:00:43 PM