April 19, 2009 : Onion Mayhem

We were surprised one morning last week to see an area of Purple Wave petunias with the tags pulled up and scattered and a couple of plants dug up. The next morning found the same area torn up, along with these onions in the opposite corner of the greenhouse.

What kind of critter could be responsible? It really didn't seem like one of our common guests, rabbits and woodchucks. Neither of them have ever shown the interest or physical ability to jump up on top of a table. Plus, they are more interested in peacefully devouring the plants rather than digging them up.

Could it be a red squirrel? They like to wreak havoc. The size of the hole that had been adeptly dug under the greenhouse wall ruled out all but a mutant squirrel.

I was standing in my living room looking out the window when I spotted what we've concluded to be the likely suspect: a fisher. Fishers are sinuous, chestnut brown carnivores that look like a fat mink.

On the third night we put out a couple of live traps armed with cat food and a sardine. However, it seemed that our friend had lost interest in digging up onions, because the traps remain unsprung and no more plants have been disturbed.

We will unfortunately have to double the price of the onions to make up for these losses. :)

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