What's taking the apples?

[LynM]

Location: small estate on edge of small rural village, open plan front garden with fields within 100 metres.

Occasionally, I put out half apples on the front lawn for the Blackbirds and Starlings. Normally, I pick up the shells when they've been finished. However, that's not been necessary recently as the shells have disappeared overnight! I know they are there at dark, but by morning they are no more!

So, what's taking them? We get foxes, cats and the occasional badger pass along the road. Might it be any of these? I dread the thought that it may be rats.....are they nocturnal?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have.

[Gill Catton]

Foxes or badgers would both happily munch on an apple especially as its been so dry.

My old dog used to wait eagerly for my apple core!!

[LynM]

Thanks, Gill. I thought that a fox was the most likely culprit. I just hope that he stays out front!

That's reminded me that our second Border Collie used to sit and wait for the apple core! Never seemed to do her any harm!!

[Kayleigh]

I think apples are in the diet of a lot of animals as there are lots of windfall in the autumn like Gill my dog waits for the apple core.