Last week I saw a strange shape in my garden. When I went out to investigate, I found this:
Something or someone had dug up one of my onions.
Even though several different types of animals can get into the garden, I knew exactly which something/someone was responsible.
The squirrels are the critters that have their own ideas about where plants should be and where holes should be. And where nothing but shredded remains should be. I call their activity “squirrelscaping.”
This next photo shows the hill where I planted four pumpkin seeds.
Now there are three pumpkin seedlings and a big crater. Hmmmm. I wonder where the fourth seed went? This is especially maddening because I’ve offered the little rascals pumpkin seeds and they always reject them.
A few days after finding my unplanted onion, I found one of my tomato plants tipped over with a big hole in the pot next to it. GRRRRR!
Then I found something that really pissed me off.
For weeks, I’d been waiting for my Carolina Reaper seeds to germinate. Finally, from a second planting, one did. I was so excited! I took it to show my son, Daniel, who is the hot pepper enthusiast of the family. And, stupidly, carelessly, I forgot to put the pot back in our little temporary greenhouse. The next day, I found this:
The empty pot and the tag. No sign of the soil or pepper plant. WTH?
I was furious…but mostly with myself for leaving the doomed pepper out. I mean, how could I be mad at this:
They’re so cute!
But it’s not just my stuff they’re messing with. Don came back in from the garden last night and said, “I officially hate your squirrels!” One of them had gnawed off a branch of one of the new blueberry bushes he just planted. GRRRR! Why, little rats, why?!?! Their destruction is so random. At least we know what to expect from our other garden “helpers.” Gary could, and probably will, step, roll or pee on any plant growing directly in the ground.
And there’s no telling where Gemma’s next cooling hole might be.
We bought a greenhouse kit but haven’t got it set up yet. I’m worried we won’t have any plants left by the time it’s done!
Scattered with Squirrels 
My squirrels never want anything to do with the remains of my squirrel o’lantern when I throw it out back after Halloween… so I continue to be baffled at those who say squirrels love pumpkin seeds. I’m just glad I don’t garden, because yeah, it’d be frustrating. Hopefully the squirrel who ate the pepper plant was able to find plenty of drinking water…
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Those little shits! 😡 They’ve been extra diggy here this year! My entire vegetable garden is covered with wire just trying to keep them from destroying my seedlings…
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It’s a constant battle with the cute little fellas! I didn’t know they had a taste for onions and hot peppers. And stealing whole plants, soil and all 🙂
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I thought the same thing about hoping the pepper-eating squirrel could find water. If a fire-breathing squirrel shows up then I’ll know which one did it!
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Do you put the wire right on the ground or is it like a fence that keeps them away from the entire plant? We’ve temporarily thrown some netting over one of our raised beds but we’re going to have to find a more permanent solution. They’ve been even busier with their destruction in the days since this post, the destructive little rats!
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I’m really baffled about the disappearance of the soil! I need a yard cam to see what they do with the stuff that disappears.
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I have a raised bed, so I lay the wire over it. Seems to be doing the trick for now…
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Try wireless battery-powered Amazon Blink cams – I have one in my back garden. Got some amazing videos of cats and birdies 🙂
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