Here we go again, but this time I have proof!

Yesterday, I checked my two ripest bagged figs.  Decided they could go another day.  This morning, the ripest is gone!  The other one won't come off the tree, but has tooth marks in it THROUGH the bag!

I noticed the bagged and half eaten fig lying on the sidewalk.  The critter left a footprint.  Is it a coon, a possum, or a rat?  That fig is a pretty big fig.  It's about 2" across, so comparatively, what do you think we are dealing with? 
 

Lesson:  Pick any fig you think is ripe during the day.  Thieves mostly come at night. 

I'm just going to cut off the bitten ripening fig and put it in the compost.  If I can't have it, neither can that critter!

Suzi

Interesting footprint. Looks like a rabbit.
The other day I saw a large rabbit climb a tomato plant and while doing it caused a large amount of tomatoes to drop. I would call local CSI to confirm:)

My best guess is a coon but can't rule out opossum either.  Unfortunately, they will probably keep coming back.

I'd say racoon, could be a opossum but we don't have many up here so I'm not familiar with its foot print. Or maybe a neighbor with racoon shoes on to throw you off his tracks lol

My neighbors don't know a fig from a fruit fly, so it's not them!  When I get more figs than we can eat, they will soon know! 

Suzi

I go with raccoon as well, but it's faint. What is it - mud on a concrete pad? You can kind of make out the distinct fingers that a raccoon has...

Arne, that's just the sidewalk that is next to the planter where the fig tree is.  I don't think it's mud.  I think it's fig juice from the critter squishing and trying to get that fig out of that bag.  I think you are probably right.  I told my neighbor and she said they have been having coon issues with them digging in their yard.

Not sure what we will do about this.  I know he will be baaack!!

Suzi

It's a raccoon. I just relocated one that was after my peaches, and digging up my garden beds. Relocated 2 last year that were wiping out the raspberries. It's a pain, but have-a-hart traps work. Legally, moving them isn't cool, but neither is a rifle shot in the middle of the night.

Raccoon

I think I need a motion detector that plays the sound of a snarling dog!

Suzi

Nice chart!  Hard to decipher.  Either a possum or a coon.  Now how to discourage them. 

Suzi

I am going to go out on a limb here and say squirrel.

A racoon would have eaten the bag along with the fig and spit out the threads.

Well, I think the print is a little too big to be a squirrel.  I know we have them around here, but rarely see them.  Never seen a coon either.  We did catch a big possum and a bunch of rats.  
Suzi

It does appear to have the thumb of a opossum with that picture.

Since Jd has gone fishing, it's on me to save the fruit for tonight.   I soaked a dishrag in 100% ammonia and wrapped it around the tree.  Get a whiff of that, Bucko!!  See if you'll ever smell anything ever again!!  Grrrrrrrrrrr

Definitely not a large rabbit. Thank You for the Chart Dave.

Turn a radio on near it.  The sounds should scare it away.  It worked for me a couple years ago. 

Should have added when I had a opossum situation.

That's a track from an opossum. You can tell by the long teardrop shape from the toes. Raccoons have more of an arch to the front feet that leaves a shorter teardrop shape.

it is a pogo    they  can climb and like fruit very much   ask my loquot tree   a motion light is good   i never see them during the day   i hope you have luck with amonia   let us know

The ammonia seemed to work!  The rag is still there, not one fig has been touched.  One that is in the bag is getting riper today. 

Tonight, I'll hit that rag with fresh ammonia.  Buying more at the store this morning.  That stuff is nasty!  I figure a critter leads with it's nose, and a whiff of that would seriously ruin it's sense of smell.  I may tie those rags to all of my fig and fruit trees.  Won't hurt the tree.  Thing is, the birds are a different story.

Suzi

You might consider hanging the rag from a hook on to a limb.
Afraid what ammonia could do to the bark.
I make up blood meal balls out of leg hosing then dip in ammonia.
I use plastic or wire ties to hang from a limb.
It keeps deer and other critters away.


Doug

This looks to be the work of a raccoon. I frequently find raccoons attempting to steal my pears and apples as well, whilst the squirrels have a particular fondness for nearly ripe peaches. Our visiting opossums, on the other hand, tend to prefer the compost bin...that and the dish of non-compostable kitchen scraps (meat scraps, fatty foods, breads, etc) which my daughter leaves out especially for them down on the other side of the fence by the stream (she's simply enamored of opossums).  However a small terrier-type dog (Jack Russell, Cairn Terrier, Fox Terrier, Feist, etc), if allowed to remain outside during the night, does help wonders in keeping the furry little thieves away.