Has anyone noticed a correlation between lack of rain and the critters (birds, squirrels and raccoon's) ravishing the fig trees vs plenty of rain and the critters generally leave the fig trees alone?

I live in Cary, NC and have found if I leave a clean water bowl (changed every day) near my fig trees I have a lot less problems with the critters.

I think in dry times the critters need the moisture more in the fig than the food content.

Thanks!

Tad

It seems around here more rain = more fruit flies and souring.

Here in Cary, NC I have no big problem with fruit flies but birds and other critters get up to 80 percent of my figs if I leave the house for the weekend or a few days

We discovered bird netting this year and it's been a godsend.

If there is any truth to this after what I went thru this summer I'll install an in ground pool for them next year 

Hi,
If you were a bird, and would find water and food ... You would use both, and not just the fresh water.
Here, in July and August, we have migratory birds passing by and I get more damages by then.
Now in September, they reached Africa, and the figs are left almost alone.
I just had to tell the house sparrows to go somewhere else. If I had given them water they would have stayed and go after the figs.
"Don't create an honey pot, or you'll get bears" :) , is my way of thinking.
Keep the orchard clean, remove (bury or take far away) every spoiled fruit ASAP; Remove hides ( hedge under control, grass and weeds short) ; don't let any source of "pleasure" there and you'll be bothered less.
Then, critters coming in need to be scared away (birds) or removed (rodents) .

What I most hate is that they don't even finish the first fruit .. They taste them all and just eat half or less of each ...

Are the birds looking for the seeds ?, for the flesh ? , for the humidity in the fruits ? ... Well, all of them , I think.
I have water in several barrels, and they still peck on the figs ...