Knowing what animals eat tomato plants is important. Don’t let animals ruin your tomato harvest. We will take you through the most common animals damaging your plants, including rabbits, deer, and insects.
You’ll learn about humane and practical solutions to deter these plant-eating animals, such as fencing, repellents, and companion planting.
Contents
Animals That Eat Tomato Plants – The Culprits!
1. Rabbits
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You might be asking yourself, “What eats red tomatoes?” or “What animals consume tomato stems?” There are many. The first one on the list is rabbits. Rabbits are small, herbivorous mammals in various environments, including forests, meadows, and deserts. They have soft fur, long ears, and short tails and are known for their distinctive hopping movements.
They are typically active at dawn and dusk and spend most of their day underground in burrows. They are searching for opportunities to eat and will eat a variety of plant materials, including tomatoes. Their diet primarily consists of green vegetation such as grass, clover, and dandelions.
Still, they are known to be adaptable and opportunistic feeders and will eat other plants if they are readily available. They have strong teeth and jaws capable of chewing through tough plants and can cause significant damage to gardens and crops.
Rabbits are particularly problematic for tomato farmers, as they eat both the leaves and fruit. They love eating tomatoes, as many herbivores love a good tomato. They are known to eat the leaves, stems, and fruits of tomato plants, causing damage to the yield of the plant.
Additionally, rabbits can cause additional damage to the plants by girdling the stem, which is when they chew around it, causing the plant to wilt and die.
Gardeners and farmers can use various methods to keep rabbits away from tomatoes, such as using physical barriers such as fences and repellents or trapping the animals.
Rabbit populations can also be controlled by encouraging natural predators, such as foxes and hawks, to thrive in the area or by relocating the animals to areas where they will have less impact on agriculture. If you are wondering what animals eat tomato plants at night, this animal sure does.
2. Deer
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Deer (family Cervidae), any of 42 species of hoofed animals in the order Artiodactyla, distinguished by the presence of two large and two small hooves on each foot, as well as antlers in the males of most species and females of one animal species.
Deer are local to all areas except Australia and Antarctica, and wide varieties have been widely introduced as game animals beyond their original habitats. The reindeer (popularly called the caribou) is one of the domesticated species.
Some swamp and island species are threatened, but most continental species thrive thanks to conservation and good management. When provided with some protection, deer readily exploit man-made disturbances such as agriculture, forestry, and urbanization. White-tailed deer, a prized North American game animal, have become pests in American and Canadian suburbs and cities.
Deer are specialized herbivores, as evidenced by their large and anatomically complex digestive organs, mobile lips, and tooth size and complexity. On the other hand, Deer rely less on coarse-fibred grasses and have yet to evolve grazing specializations comparable to those found in bovids.
Instead, they feed on young grasses, herbs, lichens, foliage, buds, aquatic plants, woody shoots, fruit, and natural ensilage—plant food with low fiber but high protein content, toxicity, and digestibility. If you are wondering what animals eat cherry tomatoes, these are the ones.
3. Squirrels
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Squirrels are tiny to small-sized rodents found in various environments, including forests, deserts, and urban areas. They are popularly known for their bushy tails and acrobatic abilities, which allow them to climb trees, leap through the air, and run along power lines. They are primarily herbivorous and eat a variety of plant materials, including seeds, fruits, nuts, and flowers.
Squirrels are opportunistic feeders and will munch tomatoes if they are readily available. They will eat the fruits and feed on the leaves and stems of the tomatoes. Squirrels consume tomatoes with great gusto!
In particular, squirrels can be problematic for tomato farmers since they eat both the leaves and fruit of the plants and can damage the yield. Additionally, squirrels can cause additional damage to the plants by gnawing on the stem, causing the plant to wilt and die.
This can be especially problematic for farmers with a small area dedicated to tomatoes or those with a limited number of plants. If you are wondering what animal eats red tomatoes and what animal eats green tomatoes at night? count squirrels in that list.
A farmer or gardener can use various methods to control squirrel populations and keep them away from tomato plants, such as building fences, using repellents, or hunting or trapping animals. This answers how to protect tomato plants from being eaten. Aside from strobe lights, loud noises, and even dogs, some farmers and gardeners have also used these methods to deter them.
Populations can also be controlled by encouraging natural predators, such as hawks and snakes, to thrive in the area or by relocating the animals to areas where they will have less impact on agriculture. The damage caused by squirrels to tomatoes can be mitigated using a combination of methods that work best for the specific situation.
4. Raccoons
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Raccoons are medium-sized mammals found in North America, known for their unique black and white striped tail and black mask. They are adaptable and can be found in a wide range of habitats. They are omnivores and eat a wide range of food, including tomatoes. They can cause massive damage to crops and gardens if their population is uncontrolled.
Raccoons are particularly problematic for tomato farmers as they eat both leaves and fruit of the plants, causing damage to the yield and climbing on the plants, breaking the stem, which causes wilting and death. This can be an issue for farmers with small tomato farms or a limited number of plants.
Farmers or gardeners can use various methods such as physical barriers such as fences, using repellents, trapping, or hunting to control raccoon populations and keep them away from tomatoes. Some farmers or gardeners have also used strobe lights, loud noises, and even guard animals such as dogs to keep them away.
Populations can also be controlled by encouraging natural predators such as coyotes and domestic cats to thrive in the area or by relocating the animals to areas where they will have less impact on agriculture. Overall, the damage caused by raccoons to tomatoes can be mitigated using a combination of the best methods for the specific situation.
5. Opossums
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Opossums are marsupials native to North America. They are known for their pointed snout, prehensile tail, and opposable thumb. They are nocturnal and have a diverse diet, feeding on plant and animal matter.
They will eat a wide range of fruits, vegetables, insects, and tomatoes if available. They are known to eat the fruits of tomatoes and nibble on the leaves and stems, causing damage to the entire plant.
Opossums are known to be opportunistic feeders and are not typically a significant threat to tomato plants; however, if they have access to a garden or crop, they can cause damage to the yield.
They can also introduce diseases and parasites that harm plants and other animals. It is not uncommon for opossums to feed on garden fruits and vegetables. Still, they are not as destructive as other species targeting tomatoes.
Farmers or gardeners can protect tomato plants from opossums by using physical barriers like fences or netting, repellents, trapping or encouraging natural predators, and installing a fence or chicken wire around the perimeter. Populations can also be controlled by relocating the opossums to areas with less impact on agriculture.
Even though opossums are not explicitly targeting tomatoes, they can still cause damage to the yield if they have access to them; it’s essential to take necessary measures to keep them away from the plants.
6. Skunks
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Skunks are small to medium-sized mammals found throughout North America. They are popular for their distinctive black and white fur and ability to spray a strong-smelling liquid to deter predators.
Skunks are primarily nocturnal and omnivorous, eating various food, including fruits, vegetables, insects, and small animals. They are known to consume tomatoes if they are readily available; they also have been known to eat the fruits and vegetables in gardens and can cause damage to the yield of the tomatoes.
Skunks will eat whatever is available to them if they have access to a garden or crop, including tomatoes, causing damage by eating the fruits, gnawing on the stem and leaves, and introducing diseases and parasites. They also dig through the soil for grubs and insects, which can accidentally damage roots and affect how you grow tomatoes in raised beds.
Farmers or gardeners can protect their tomato plants from skunks by implementing various methods such as building physical barriers like fences or netting, using repellents, trapping the animals, or encouraging natural predators.
One effective way to prevent skunks from entering gardens is by installing a fence or wire around the perimeter. Additionally, relocating the skunks to areas where they will have less impact on agriculture can also help to control their populations. It’s necessary to take the vital steps to keep skunks away from tomatoes, as they can cause significant damage when they have access to them.
7. Chipmunks
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Chipmunks are tiny, burrowing rodents that are found throughout North America. They are popular for their distinctive black and white stripes on their back, their bushy tail, and their playful behavior.
Chipmunks are active during the day and are primarily herbivorous, eating various plants, seeds, fruits, and nuts like local birds. They are opportunistic feeders and will consume tomatoes if they are readily available; they also will feed on the leaves, stems, and fruits of tomatoes.
Chipmunks are a significant problem for tomato farmers as they consume leaves and fruit, reducing yield and causing damage to the plants. Farmers can use physical barriers such as fencing or wire, repellents, relocating, and humane repellents to prevent damage.
Populations can also be controlled by encouraging natural predators or relocating the animals. A combination of methods is recommended to mitigate the damage caused by chipmunks to tomatoes.
8. Woodchucks
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The groundhog is another rodent that enjoys eating tomatoes. Groundhogs are one of the most common animals found in gardens eating tomatoes. These burrowing rodents, also known as woodchucks, are well-known for their voracious vegetable appetite. If you have a groundhog in your garden, you’ll probably see it munching on your tomatoes during the day.
Groundhogs are brown or gray with white patches on their bellies and weigh between four and seven pounds. These animals live in groups and dig underground dens.
Groundhogs frequently burrow beneath open areas such as meadows and farmlands, which can be a nuisance to farmers. Burrows, on the other hand, are critical to groundhogs and their ecosystem.
So, can groundhogs truly predict when spring will arrive? Nope. The rodents hibernate in their burrows during the winter and emerge around the same time each year. Males emerge in early February to claim their territory, not to forecast more winter weather.
Woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, are giant ground-dwelling squirrels in North America. They have short legs and bushy tails and eat a variety of plants. Farmers can use physical barriers, repellents, or traps to prevent damage and control populations by encouraging natural predators or relocating the animals.
Conclusion
The conclusion sums up the article’s main points, discussing the various animals eat tomatoes that can cause damage to tomato plants and the methods that can be used to prevent it.
The importance of controlling the population of these animals and the damage they cause is highlighted to protect the yield of the tomato plants.
- The tomato plant is a popular food source for many animals.
- They can cause significant damage to gardens and crops if their populations are not controlled.
- Various methods can be used to keep these animals away from tomato plants, including physical barriers, repellents, and encouraging natural predators.
- Using a combination of methods that work best for the specific situation.
- The damage caused by tomato plant-eating animals can be mitigated, and it can help protect the yield of the tomato plants.
The article concludes that using a combination of methods can effectively control these animals and minimize the damage they cause to tomato plants.
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