Hoping someone will be able to offer some suggestions...

We've recently relocated fom the burbs to a country home with wonderful
established gardens outside of Eugene, OR. The rear yard borders on a
couple of acres of woods & blackberries and is deer fenced, so our
local heard doesn't intrude. Front yard is fruit trees and pasture with
a lawn & landscaping near the house.

Have recently noticed several well defined 2-3 foot wide circular
depressions - as though an animal had been sleeping - appearing in tall
garden foliage in the backyard, right next to the back deck. No
indication that the beastie is eating anything in the area, no nesting
materials evident, no tracks, burrows, droppings or access to area
under house/deck. Plants involved have been borage & native geranuims.
We've never seen anything inhabiting the depressions - either during
the day or at night by flashlight.

I'd guess a stray cat, but our 2 Siamese sleep on the adjacent deck (in
their own little house) & are very territorial when it comes to other
house cats. The cats came with the house & are used to living
peacefully with the local wild animals (skunks, opossums, racoons,
squirrels, moles, & a wide variety of birds including wild turkeys).
Our immediate neighbor reported hearing a very unusual ear jarring
howling the other night, but had no idea what it was...we're not prone
to coyotes, but do get reports of the odd cougar or bobcat. Did notice
a lone limping deer a couple of weeks ago, but the deer have been
strangely absent of late. I do have veggie beds in the same area,
filled with radishes, lettuces, tomatoes, & broccoli which are
untouched, so I don't think its bunnies. Would appreciate input -
whatever this critter is, it's pretty hard on the garden & we'd sure
like to know what we're dealing with.

Nancy

"ntantiques" wrote in
oups.com:

Hoping someone will be able to offer some suggestions...

We've recently relocated fom the burbs to a country home with wonderful
established gardens outside of Eugene, OR. The rear yard borders on a
couple of acres of woods & blackberries and is deer fenced, so our
local heard doesn't intrude. Front yard is fruit trees and pasture with
a lawn & landscaping near the house.

Have recently noticed several well defined 2-3 foot wide circular
depressions - as though an animal had been sleeping - appearing in tall
garden foliage in the backyard, right next to the back deck. No
indication that the beastie is eating anything in the area, no nesting
materials evident, no tracks, burrows, droppings or access to area
under house/deck. Plants involved have been borage & native geranuims.
We've never seen anything inhabiting the depressions - either during
the day or at night by flashlight.

I'd guess a stray cat, but our 2 Siamese sleep on the adjacent deck (in
their own little house) & are very territorial when it comes to other
house cats. The cats came with the house & are used to living
peacefully with the local wild animals (skunks, opossums, racoons,
squirrels, moles, & a wide variety of birds including wild turkeys).
Our immediate neighbor reported hearing a very unusual ear jarring
howling the other night, but had no idea what it was...we're not prone
to coyotes, but do get reports of the odd cougar or bobcat. Did notice
a lone limping deer a couple of weeks ago, but the deer have been
strangely absent of late. I do have veggie beds in the same area,
filled with radishes, lettuces, tomatoes, & broccoli which are
untouched, so I don't think its bunnies. Would appreciate input -
whatever this critter is, it's pretty hard on the garden & we'd sure
like to know what we're dealing with.

Nancy



Possibly a fox. They like to lay up for part of the night and let the
rodents come to them. I've observed Red Foxes here in Virginia make
'daybeds' in my drifts of forget-me-nots and other comfy groundcovers that
affords them some camouflage as they await their next hot meal.

--
David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
email:
http://beyondgardening.com/Albums

David Bockman wrote:


Possibly a fox. They like to lay up for part of the night and let the

rodents come to them. I've observed Red Foxes here in Virginia make
'daybeds' in my drifts of forget-me-nots and other comfy groundcovers
that
affords them some camouflage as they await their next hot meal.

--
David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
email:
http://beyondgardening.com/Albums

Hadn't thought of a fox, but it's a good possibility especially since
the depressed areas are very close to a couple of fresh vole/mole
tunnel openings. If a fox wants to dine on those little devils, it's
more than ok by me. As long as he doesn't mess with the cats or become
a vegetarian, a fox would be welcome guest. Thanks for the help
Nancy

"ntantiques" wrote in
oups.com:


David Bockman wrote:


Possibly a fox. They like to lay up for part of the night
and let the

rodents come to them. I've observed Red Foxes here in
Virginia make 'daybeds' in my drifts of forget-me-nots and
other comfy groundcovers
that
affords them some camouflage as they await their next hot
meal.

--
David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
email:
http://beyondgardening.com/Albums

Hadn't thought of a fox, but it's a good possibility
especially since the depressed areas are very close to a
couple of fresh vole/mole tunnel openings. If a fox wants
to dine on those little devils, it's more than ok by me. As
long as he doesn't mess with the cats or become a
vegetarian, a fox would be welcome guest. Thanks for the
help

foxes will eat cats, but they'd have to be pretty hungry...
try encouraging one of your neighbors to keep free range
chickens. that'll keep your cats safe
lee

enigma wrote in
:

"ntantiques" wrote in
oups.com:


David Bockman wrote:


Possibly a fox. They like to lay up for part of the night
and let the

rodents come to them. I've observed Red Foxes here in
Virginia make 'daybeds' in my drifts of forget-me-nots and
other comfy groundcovers
that
affords them some camouflage as they await their next hot
meal.

--
David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
email:
http://beyondgardening.com/Albums

Hadn't thought of a fox, but it's a good possibility
especially since the depressed areas are very close to a
couple of fresh vole/mole tunnel openings. If a fox wants
to dine on those little devils, it's more than ok by me. As
long as he doesn't mess with the cats or become a
vegetarian, a fox would be welcome guest. Thanks for the
help

foxes will eat cats, but they'd have to be pretty hungry...
try encouraging one of your neighbors to keep free range
chickens. that'll keep your cats safe
lee


We had a large population of feral cats which has been substantially
thinned by the foxes. Now the only feral cats I see are major beefy boys
who look like they can hold their own.... last week I was awakened by
caterwauling and a weird yelping sound; I investigated and found a feral
cat cornered up against the side of my house being repeatedly charged by a
fox. The fox would leisurely step close, the cat would strike, and the fox
would yelp and jump back. I think probably over time the cat would become
exhausted and the fox could move in and finish the cat off, however I broke
up the fight and each went off like lightning in different directions.

--
David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
email:
http://beyondgardening.com/Albums

David Bockman wrote:
enigma wrote in
:





We had a large population of feral cats which has been substantially
thinned by the foxes. Now the only feral cats I see are major beefy
boys
who look like they can hold their own.... last week I was awakened by

caterwauling and a weird yelping sound; I investigated and found a
feral
cat cornered up against the side of my house being repeatedly charged
by a
fox. The fox would leisurely step close, the cat would strike, and
the fox
would yelp and jump back. I think probably over time the cat would
become
exhausted and the fox could move in and finish the cat off, however I
broke
up the fight and each went off like lightning in different
directions.

--
David J. Bockman, Fairfax, VA (USDA Hardiness Zone 7)
email:
http://beyondgardening.com/Albums

Could be that was the bizarre howling noise my neighbor heard the other
night. Will have to keep an extra eye on the cats - they're good old
boys & delightful company when I'm working in the garden. Would bring
'em in at night, but they developed some nasty habits with their
previous owners - no use trying to retrain a neutered 12 year old
Siamese who feels obligated to mark everything in sight.

Nancy