Fruit thieves...

[Batt]

Last year we went out to pick apples and they were gone...just gone. We figured it was deer, but on reflection, some of those apples were 10' up in the tree.

Just now I was looking forward to some fresh peaches. Last week they were nearly ready, but I was letting them go a little more so the skin and stone would slip a little better. Now they are gone...Just gone. Again some were 10' in the top of the tree. Probably 2 or 3 - 5 gallon buckets full.

What is going on???

[TheMartianChick]

I think I've heard of raccoons wiping out entire crops of tree fruits

[KeithBC]

Yup, raccoons. Before I was on to them, I would check my grapes for ripeness. I recall thinking, "One more day and they'll be perfect for picking." The next day there wasn't a single grape left, and some of the vines were broken. The only positive that came from it was that I had my judgment of ripeness confirmed by experts! Now, I use an electric fence.

[Danaus29]

Peaches? I'm always willing to blame squirrels. I saw them wipe out more than 5 bushels in one day.

[Helena]

Is it possible that a "human" robber is taking them..Are they close to the road that that would be possible??

[Batt]

Originally Posted by Helena

Is it possible that a "human" robber is taking them..Are they close to the road that that would be possible??

Unlikely. They are a couple hundred yards from the road, and just the other side of the garden which is only about 20 ft. from the house.

I still have 1 tree of peaches from a later maturing variety plus 3 apple trees. We'll see.

Originally Posted by Danaus29

Peaches? I'm always willing to blame squirrels. I saw them wipe out more than 5 bushels in one day.

That would be daylight robbery. That close, I think I would see them. However, it is time for some .22 target practice.

I think I've heard of raccoons wiping out entire crops of tree fruits

My thinking too, looking for confirmation. Coon recently wiped out about 20 young replacement hens. But I know for a fact it wasn't that one.

[fishhead]

Wouldn't coons leave the cores or at least droppings full of seeds?

[TheMartianChick]

I thought that I heard that they would carry them off into the night...

[Joshie]

It's camera time. I've heard of human fruit thieves going way onto someone else's property.

[big rockpile]

Coons will hit two of my Peach Trees every year but the ground will be coverd with pits.

big rockpile

[Patt]

I'd definitely either get a game camera or sit up and watch the next tree due to ripen.

[ChristyACB]

That is so funny! My peach tree is having it's first year of full fruiting and just two days ago I said...One more Day! And voila..came out at 5 am the next morning and there was not a one left. Not one. One pit on the ground and as I was walking up, 2 squirrels jumped down and ran.

I was just sooooo furious! How do big peach farmers keep their peaches?

How does anyone else here keep their peaches?

[Our Little Farm]

Protection from LGD who happily sits under the fruit trees waiting for any unsuspecting visitor led to temptation.

[Oldcountryboy]

I had to pick ours just a little bit early due to our neighbor lady coming over and helping herself without even asking. We only have one little dwarf peach tree and my wife was worried if we don't go out and pick them we may not have any left. So we picked them early and the next time I seen the old lady I scorned her for picking our peaches without asking. I wouldn't have mind if she was just picking 2 or 3 for herself, but one day my wife shouted at me "There she is picking our peaches again". When I looked out the window she had a small bag full and then I watched her walk right straight over to another neighbor and give them away. That just raised the hair on my neck like you wouldn't believe! So the next day when I was working in my front garden the old lady came over for a visit and I let her know that those peaches are ours and we have plans for them. She hasn't been over very much since then.

Hopefully it's not humans getting your fruits. But if it's animals, I guess it's time to take up winter trapping or hound hunting.

[Patt]

Originally Posted by Our Little Farm

Protection from LGD who happily sits under the fruit trees waiting for any unsuspecting visitor led to temptation.

Our dogs and cats have kept the squirrels out of peach tree,they used to eat all of them too.

[ronbre]

why blame it on animals..it could have been people that have stolen your fruit while your back was turned? Happens all the time. Put up a sign that says No Trespassing "thieves and trespassers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law" and place the signs near the fruit trees.

[Beeman]

We've had fruit trees for 15 years, we've never eaten anything from them. The animals clean them out before we get a chance.

[Rockytopsis]

I had my green beans stripped while I was at work, now we are fenced in with 5 dogs. No more missing green beans.

[monkeybackfarm]

We had the same kind of trouble about 8 years ago. We have a huge grapevine with black grapes and white grapes ,I would say about 10,000 grapes each, two huge pear trees. We started noticing grapes were less and less and finally one day they were all gone. Then a month later the pear trees were full with about 100 pears each on them. One day they were hanging and looking pretty the next afternoon after we got home from work they were all gone. So I set a game camera up the next year in a tree close by and got pictures of a woman and her 5 kids who live on on a rented lot down the road from our farm. She home schools her kids so they are with her all the time. When we confronted her with the evidence she moved the next week...

[salmonslayer]

Coons are bad in oujr neck of the woods this year Adron and thats my guess as to whats gettin yer stuff. I have had to shoot two of the little buggers so far and with my corn just coming on I expect we will have more problems.