What Animals Eat Squash? How To Protect Squash Plants

26.08.2023 - 02:11 / gardeningknowhow.com

As humans, we are omnivorous and eat a host of foods. And our furry and feathered friends seem to enjoy a similar diverse diet. It is not unusual to check the vegetable patch and find some gnaw marks in our food, especially squash. What animals eat squash? The answer is as varied as our wildlife.

The signs are unmistakable. Scratch marks, strangely shaped bites, and even tunneling in our squash. In the plant itself, often the leaves are skeletonized or simply completely gone. Something other than the gardener has been enjoying the fruits of their labor.

In the early days of a plant’s growth, it is common to find seedlings entirely cut off, the likely work of cutworms, but as the plant matures the fruit is also often attacked by larger consumers. While it is a classic joke that a zucchini plant can feed hundreds, we really don’t plant our food crops to share with animals and insects. In order to keep the harvest for ourselves, we need to recognize what animals eat squash plants and how to control the invaders.

When you head out to your garden plot to harvest some tender young squash for dinner, and the evidence is clear, you may be wondering, “what is eating my squash fruit?” Insects are often the initial pests that denude a plant of leaves and may even eat the roots of seedlings.

Figuring out who is the culprit starts with looking for clues. Is there tunneling present? It could be rats, woodchucks, shrews, voles, moles, or other animals who dig routes underground. If the lowest leaves are lost, shorter animals like rabbits, raccoons, or skunks may be the culprit. Cute little chipmunks and squirrels are classic offenders and difficult to keep out of the garden due to their agility and speed. Deer don’t enjoy prickly foods,