Is this the work of birds?

Is this the work of birds?#268675

By Stripe -  Sun Jul 17, 2016 6:03 pm
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Joined:  Sun Jul 17, 2016 4:42 pm

- Sun Jul 17, 2016 6:03 pm #268675

VFT missing traps, also some are mutilated. It's happened about everyday this week. I put a cage over it last night and came out this morning to see one of the newer traps with marks on it. So I guess it's a little too narrow, or it's a smaller pest. Just wanted some opinions on what it could be before I move to the next step.

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Re: Is this the work of birds?#268682

By AaaaNinja -  Sun Jul 17, 2016 7:16 pm
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- Sun Jul 17, 2016 7:16 pm #268682

I don't think that cage can keep a squirrel out. They can get through openings the size of a quarter

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Re: Is this the work of birds?#268684

By Stripe -  Sun Jul 17, 2016 7:49 pm
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- Sun Jul 17, 2016 7:49 pm #268684

Yeah I was thinking of getting a bird cage with the narrower bars. I just got that last night as a quick fix. The trap that was marked up in the pic was sticking out a bit.

Re: Is this the work of birds?#268749

By hayproz13579 -  Mon Jul 18, 2016 7:19 am
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- Mon Jul 18, 2016 7:19 am #268749

Maybe it caused by cats.

Re: Is this the work of birds?#268759

By steve booth -  Mon Jul 18, 2016 12:13 pm
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- Mon Jul 18, 2016 12:13 pm #268759

Birds tend to pull the traps off rather than nip at them.

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Re: Is this the work of birds?#268851

By pieguy452 -  Tue Jul 19, 2016 3:52 am
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- Tue Jul 19, 2016 3:52 am #268851

I feel like a bird or squirrel would do more damage than that. Maybe it was catipiallars?

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Re: Is this the work of birds?#268883

By katya_dog1 -  Tue Jul 19, 2016 12:25 pm
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- Tue Jul 19, 2016 12:25 pm #268883

Looks a lot like bird damage to me. Birds generally try to get at the bugs in the traps, and clean-edged damage is more likely the result of a bird's smooth beak than a squirrel's teeth.

AaaaNinja wrote:I don't think that cage can keep a squirrel out. They can get through openings the size of a quarter

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What species of squirrel (when fully mature) can get through a hole the size of a quarter? Some flying squirrel?

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Re: Is this the work of birds?#269041

By Stripe -  Wed Jul 20, 2016 9:12 pm
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Joined:  Sun Jul 17, 2016 4:42 pm

- Wed Jul 20, 2016 9:12 pm #269041

Update:

I have not lost anymore traps since adding the cage. New growth is coming in and is looking great. I'm pinning it on the society finches that frequent my yard. Thanks everyone for your input.

Re: Is this the work of birds?#269043

By AaaaNinja -  Wed Jul 20, 2016 9:43 pm
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- Wed Jul 20, 2016 9:43 pm #269043

katya_dog1 wrote: What species of squirrel (when fully mature) can get through a hole the size of a quarter? Some flying squirrel?

Grey squirrels, a one-inch hole. For a flying squirrel just a nickel.

That might actually be the size needed for being able to get the teeth in and chew so I'm not sure, I'm just making that up because it made sense. I found other guidelines saying wire mesh with a max size of 1"

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Re: Is this the work of birds?#270853

By omnipercp15 -  Tue Aug 09, 2016 3:31 pm
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- Tue Aug 09, 2016 3:31 pm #270853

At least it's not your ducks! My new ducks were trying out various plants around the yard and decided to nip off a few VFT traps as well as Nepenthes traps....but at least they found out they don't like it so they won't be bothering those plants anymore.

I'm glad I don't have to take more precaution for those plants.

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