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Northern Kentucky

Several of my pumpkins in my patch of about 1/2 acre have holes in the top, slightly bigger than a golf ball, and there is usually a pile of seeds on the ground as if the seeds had been scooped out. The only thing I know that could do so this would be a coon, but am I off base? Could it be something else? I have an electric fence, 3 strand polywire, around the patch, but the battery had run low this past month or so. I recharged it, and set a live trap inside the fence these past 2 nights and have caught zero (cat food for bait). Any thoughts or ideas?

8/29/2010 5:48:33 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Got squirrels?

8/29/2010 6:12:25 PM

Agassiz, BC, Canada

Not to thread jack, but does this mean the pumpkin is finished or can it be patched?

8/29/2010 6:22:50 PM

Agassiz, BC, Canada

Ok, I panicked. I put Quik-seal on it. Hope it's ok.

8/29/2010 6:55:07 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

North Shore, I don't know what type of squirrels yall have up there in Canada, but down here they eat nuts. I'd bet it's the coons. They are pretty smart. Bait the trap with the seeds if that's what their after.

8/29/2010 8:20:59 PM

Western PA

Ted, are you using a can of cat food ? If not I recommend you use a can, tuna works great too. Don't open the can, just poke a few holes in it, the smell will carry far.

I think if it was a coon, you would see a lot of claw marks on the outside of the fruit.

A chipmunk could possibly do that too.

How big are the pumpkins ?

8/29/2010 8:52:20 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

So Luke, squirrels don't eat seeds & nuts? Look at the attached photo and expand your mind.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/DisplayPhoto.asp?pid=5009

8/29/2010 9:42:14 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

North Shore, no need to expand my mind as I don't do drugs. I'll have a beer with ya though.

I still think it was a coon since I just haven't seen squirrels do anything like that all my years in Missouri and Illinois, but from the above I am probably wrong.

8/29/2010 11:26:29 PM

Ohio

this guy here will eat your seeds, gotta watch him for sure

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=6608&gid=-32842

8/30/2010 4:14:57 AM

Western PA

I saw a pic of your diary Ted, it looks like that field pumpkin was rotten on top. A coon or other animal could have easily pushed its hand through that soft area. Hard to say what did it. If it happens again on a fruit with no rot, look close for teeth marks, claws or other evidence.

8/30/2010 8:37:20 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Could be SVB as well though I haven't seen the pix.

8/30/2010 7:20:09 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

Honestly- I would be looking for deer tracks. A friend of mine grows jack o lantern pumpkins and has seen this. They have teeth like a horse but alot smaller. They onlt take one bite here and there!!

Phat Joe

4/26/2011 5:53:05 AM