Something is messing with my strawberries

[Alves]

It is not actually eating the fruit and they are too well netted for bird access. What is happening is that something is breaking off the small hard green berries and collecting them under the leaves. Red berries are ignored! The berries themselves show no bite marks, but there are lots of the seeds on the ground around them and the green fruits look a bit "bare". I have never seen anything like this before.

I have looked for signs of mice (and found none) but any signs would be hard to see as the plants are growing through holes in weed-suppressing membrane which is covered with bark chips. The main rows affected are Pegasus, which are growing close to a row of raspberry canes, but I found some tonight in a row of Cambridge favourite that are on their own just now.

All suggestions welcome.

[Lesley Jay]

Could it possibly be voles?

[Alves]

Voles are a possibility. We were sitting on the patio last year when one walked calmly along in front of us and crawled under the shed (which has a solid concrete floor!) I also found a 1" diameter hole in the ground in the next bed to the strawberries this year

However today I saw a large beetle running off one of the berries. Don't see how a beetle would collect them together though. And would a vole not eat the berries?

[Lesley Jay]

It's guess work on my part Ken but as the strawberries are netted over the culprit must be coming under the netting or from underground. As you have weed suppressing membrane down you won't be able to see the voles runs / tunnels. Voles eat seeds and hide their food (you did say the berries were hidden under the leaves). Maybe green strawberries aren't tasty and the voles are just eating the seeds. They also eat roots so it would be a good idea to lift the membrane when the strawberries have finished fruiting just to make sure that it's not voles!

[Alves]

Thanks Lesley, I think you are right. I suppose the next problem is how to get rid of voles!

[malcolmx]

owles live on voles so buy !lb of assorted owls from dead parrot pet shop and release

[Lesley Jay]

Originally Posted by malcolmx

buy 1lb of assorted owls from dead parrot pet shop and release

If you struggle to find 1lb of assorted owls, there are humane traps and also sonic scarers that you can buy to get rid of voles.

[Alves]

I think I'll miss out on the owls, but start looking for a trap or scarer. It now seems to have acquired the taste for the ripe berries.

[Lesley Jay]

This site has both sonic scarers and live traps. Moles and voles seem to be classed the same on most sites. Fingers crossed you catch it!

Pest Help UK - Mole Control - Traps & Repellers for Garden Moles

[Alves]

Thanks for that. I have marked the site for later, as we are trying to indulge our other hobby (sailing) just now and it looks as if the weather may improve next week. Shame that both soft fruit and sailing are in season at the same time!