i have a supersnack sunflower that i planted this spring and has grown about 5 feet+ tall. It was just about to bloom when suddenly the entire head has been snipped off. Was it a squirrel? A mean neighbor? It's planted next to a fence, i live in an urban area. What predators are out there for sunflowers and what can i do to protect them?
2006-08-15 16:55:14 · 8 answers · asked by cocheers 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
I would say human.
Why would an animal snip it off BEFORE it has bloomed and produce the seed that they would eat?
2006-08-16 04:23:44 · answer #1 · answered by Bad M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your sunflower was way up high, then it probably was a squirrel. If the sunflower was down lower a bit, it could of been a squirrel or a deer. I've been putting powdered cayenne pepper on the heads of my sunflowers now to keep the critters away. Sometimes, you can find your missing sunflower head in the armpits of trees, I once read. I've also been putting out wild bird seed and crunchy peanut butter sandwhiches for the squirrels in hopes that they'll leave my flowers alone. The squirrels can have them in October, but for now I want to enjoy them all to myself, plus I like the privacy fence that sunflowers make.
2006-08-15 17:26:30 · answer #2 · answered by nellie_3000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably a squirrel .I've seen them steal the heads off of my sisters sunflowers when I was visiting her He kept coming back until he had all of them . Not much you can do to protect them except feed the darn critters and hope they leave the flowers alone ,or put down some squirrel repellent
2006-08-15 17:09:23 · answer #3 · answered by jim d 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a squirrel to me. He proably took ot to his nest to enjoy during the winter. They love sunflower seeds and are voracous eater of them. Never stole my sunflowers but this is the time of the year when they harvest pinecones and store them for winter. If you've never seen them harvest cones it is quite entertaining. I put peanut butter in a dish near the bird feeder for the squirrels.
2006-08-15 21:34:28 · answer #4 · answered by Leslie S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, until I read urban area I was thinking a deer. They love sunflowers. So maybe a mean neighbor.
2006-08-15 17:00:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry. it was Kyle from my squirrel Army. I sent him out on a foraging patrol with Mikey, Dave and Suzy and they came back with it. It told them not to do it again but you know how hard it is to control a squirrel army. He has been demoted back to Corporal and the others were given harsh talking to's.
VIVA LA SQUIRRLES!!!
2006-08-16 16:58:51 · answer #6 · answered by comcamav8r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume you planted it for the squirrels anyway
2006-08-16 00:27:43 · answer #7 · answered by txcatwoman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it could be a raccoon!or a small child not knowing any better!
2006-08-16 03:31:20 · answer #8 · answered by cyndi b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋