What is stealing my coconuts?

Helsie183 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-05-2010, 05:59 AM

Can anyone help? Hanging from my shed roof I have an assortment of treats for birds including a couple of half coconuts filled with suet and seed. Now I think I am going mad. On several occasions they have gone missing. Last night something managed to get 3 coconut shells down and make off with them. One was left on the grass (this was the almost empty shell!). It for all the world looks as though the knot in the string has been untied! The coconuts hang from fairly large hooks and the shed is close to a pear tree (not very large) and a whispy bush. Last time it happened I had a word with my neighbour to see if their cat had made off with it, but apparently not - the cat is now kept in overnight. Would a fox be that interested and clever enough to untie knots?! Does a squirrel get peckish in the middle of the night? I look forward to hearing your theories.

AshLee · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2010, 06:03 AM

I would have thought a squirrel was doing this, but I cannot recall ever seeing one at night. A rat might be a better candidate.

Helsie183 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2010, 06:11 AM

AshLee - thank you. I know we have a family of mice around which I can cope with, but not so happy about the thoughts of a rat!

redbanana · #4 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 12:19 PM

Hi, this happens to me too and we have foxes, hedgehogs and squirrels.

I have never seen the squirrels at night so assumed it was the foxes but hadn't thought about mice and rats, so I will be extra vigilant now to see if I can find the thief.

Kirsten

ricwine · #5 (**permalink**) 13-05-2010, 07:17 PM

I used to tie a half a coconut filled with suet to my bird feeder. the squirrels would pull it down every time. and i lost one once, so assumed they carried it off. or it was left on the ground and a fox took it off. but i cant see mice or maybe rats taking them off for any great distance.

so a real mystery, you will have to monitor the shed roof.