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Someone or something stealing my apples

We have a couple of dwarf apple trees, 3 foot high, one of which was loaded with approx. 35 apples. We had been carefully removing any small fruits to give the others a better chance of getting to an edible size.
One morning last week, i noticed that several fruits were missing, and i said to the wife, we had someone stealing, but she said i must have taken them off, and forgotten about it. The next morning was the same, several were gone.
That evening at dusk i was drawing the curtains, when i spotted a large rat beneath the tree, it then went into a dense clump of bushes. The next morning i investigated, and found about a dozen partially eaten apples.
Although it was very annoying, as it has generally been a poor year for our fruit trees, it was most amusing.
I was not aware that rats would do this, so as not to take any chance with my other apples, and few pears, i have removed all of them.
Mr Rat has been dealt with, and will not be able to steal again.
Sorry about the long tale, but i thought other gardeners would find it amusing, and i am interested as to whether or not anyone else has had a similar experience.

Comments

  • I will have to go out and count my apples and pears.:D

    Thats a funny tale, and here's mine. I have fat balls and peanuts in a plastic mesh holder. Well, I kept finding the holder on the ground in two pieces (it snaps together) and the lid off and not really any of the contents left. I assumed it was squirrels, until one morning when I opened the back door and startled 5 or 6 Collared Doves. After this I watched them from the window and it was indeed the doves - they flew at the feeder and swung on it till it fell off and then they ate the contents on the ground.:rotfl:

    The doves nest in neighbours fir trees, so the cost of bird feed this year has been a killer.:eek:
  • poppysarah
    poppysarah Posts: 11,522 Forumite
    The blackbird has been eating the apples on the tree in the orchard on our allotment.
  • At least he had a good last meal!

    Squirrel is taking at least two of ours each day, which is annoying when there are so many windfalls he/she would be welcome to
    You never know how far-reaching something good, that you may do or say today, may affect the lives of others tomorrow
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