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Mount Prospect,illinois

Hey guys, just trying to get a good idea of what animals are harmfull to gardens(worth targeting)and what are not (maybe even beneficial). I have a list. Please feel free to add or correct.
1. Squirrels = bad (eat vines)
2. Chipmunks = ? (we have them but i cant prove whether they are bad or nuetral)
3. Raccoons = ? dont know this one.
4. Rabbits = good/nuetral? I have seen some posts that they are ok.
4. deer = bad (i have seen the pics)
5. possum = ? I have trapped 2 but dont know if they are harmfull.
6. mice = ? havent seen any but i know they are around.

any others?

7/29/2007 11:02:22 AM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Chipmunks and mice-- burrow thru underneath the pumpkin to get seeds

Woodchucks--eat the vine tips and small pumpkins

Rabbits are mostly harmless to pumpkin plants

Deer--Will kick holes in large pumpkins and trample vines

Kids playing soccer-- nearby will snap off vines

Ditto for dogs chasing other animals !

7/29/2007 5:40:24 PM

Roselle, IL GJGEM@sbcglobal.net

Raccoons = Bad will claw and dig into pumpkins. I have been covering mine with heavy blankets

7/29/2007 6:04:28 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

6. Mice = very bad. They like to chew up into the pumpkin AFTER the seeds are prime. Copper screening under the pumper would prevent this.

5. Opossum = road kill = good fertilizer. Dumb animal.

4. Rabbits = We've spent big bucks on rabbit fencing so I hope they're trouble. LOL

The drier it is the more likely any of these critters might assault our pumpkins. Many critters will bite the vines or fruit just to obtain moisture.

7/29/2007 6:43:15 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

So basically, the 2 i am ok with are rabbits and Opossums. I figured. I was going to add my kids under the "bad animals" section as well but balked. I am glad you did Northman.
So i have to worry about the raccoons more huh? I have moth balls that i have placed around the fruit. It is strong fo rme. I wonder how bad it is for them?

7/30/2007 1:49:35 PM

Georgia

Ive found out with Rabbits from other growers dont like moth balls and they work. Deer suck and should be shot,cleaned and eaten. Mice if your pumpkins are not sitting on a something solid like plywood like to make homes in them. A good mouse deterent is a tom cat they work great. Wood chucks have a healthy appetite lets just say I found that out the hard way.

7/30/2007 2:14:52 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Dave,,,, I meant my neighbor's kids not mine whom are 37 and 35 yrs old !

7/31/2007 5:51:43 PM

Washington

Add cats to the bad list. We have had them leave scatch marks on the pumpkins from sharpening their claws or jumping up and digging in as they slip with the sheet. They like to sit on top of the pumpkins and wait for birds to come after worms. We don't have this problem as bad now that we don't build shade structures over the pumpkins. The cats don't like getting wet from the sprinklers. Sherry

7/31/2007 6:22:42 PM