Pumpkin – Mouse Damage

Q: My heirloom pumpkin patch has thrived until recently. When we first planted we had problems with field mice eating the seeds so we trapped them.

Now something is eating the green pumpkins. Do you think the mice are back?

A: The hole looks to be a perfect fit for mousey mouths.

Raccoons would likely leave claw marks on the skin.

Deer would leave hoofprints nearby.

Coyote bite marks would be bigger.

Set out in the patch a half dozen mousetraps baited with peanut butter. Put a slice of apple beside each one and cover lightly with an overturned shoebox or gallon plastic pot.

Let me know what you catch!