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Treacodactyl

Apple theft

We have a few small apple trees and one was covered in very red apples. However, looking at it tonight there are only three left so about 10 have gone over the last week. There were two windfalls and no trace of anything else, other trees with far duller looking apples have not been touched.

Now I know squirrels take apples, I've seen them steal apples and take them into trees to eat, but I tend to find traces left behind and even the odd small apple wedged in a tree.

Foxes have stripped a gooseberry bush and one windfall apple was only a quarter of it left behind with very straight cuts.

I'm thinking it may have been a fox but has anyone heard of foxes eating several apples at a time? Would they only eat bright red ones? I think I'll have to make up some netting panels for next year to move round with the fruit crops. The other unstoppable pest could be a two legged variety of fox though. Confused
cab

I've seen windfall apples hoovered up by a badger before. I kid you not.
Treacodactyl

No badgers or any farm animals about.
2steps

my dog loves apples. Could a dog of gotten in and eaten them?
Bernie66

I have had squirrels dig up large onion bulbs and take them a good twenty yards so it would not surprise me, failing that i guess human foxes
culpepper

My neighbour had her apple tree stripped by the local boys.
They were also raiding an allotment on their way home from school.
The local shop was buying the goods under the impression they came from their own garden Evil or Very Mad
Treacodactyl

Well, after some more investigation I can only think it was a fox. Some remaining apples disappeared when the neighbours were away so I doubt it was people and no dog sightings. Other trees have had apples go missing and it became noticeable it was only the apples on the lower branches of the tree and not the top so squirrels seem very unlikely. I've not heard of foxes eating apples before though.
culpepper

I have ! Blackberries too.
What about badgers? I've heard they will eat anything.
Ofcourse little boys would maybe only take the lower apples if they werent actually climbing the tree.
Treacodactyl

No badgers in the area, some people have seen deer but it would be very difficult for them to get in and we've not seen traces of them or other animals. Little boys would find sticks to hit trees with but no other damage so it's odds on a fox.
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