What Animals Eat Figs Off The Tree – Identifying Culprits & Protecting

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of a ripening fig. You’ve watched it grow from a tiny green nub into a plump, jewel-toned fruit, imagining its sweet, jammy flavor. You go out one morning, ready for the perfect harvest, only to find it half-eaten, pecked, or gone entirely. It’s a moment of pure frustration every gardener knows well.

I’ve been there, my friend, and I know how disheartening it can be. But don’t throw in the trowel just yet! The first step to reclaiming your harvest is understanding exactly what animals eat figs off the tree in your garden. Once you identify the culprit, you can choose the right strategy to protect your precious fruit.

In this complete guide, I promise to walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll uncover the most common fig-loving creatures, learn how to read the clues they leave behind, and explore a treasure trove of practical, effective, and humane protection methods. You’ll get the best tips to ensure you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Let’s dive in and save those figs!

The Usual Suspects: A Guide to What Animals Eat Figs Off the Tree

Your fig tree is like a five-star restaurant for local wildlife, offering a sweet, energy-rich meal. The guest list can be surprisingly long, but most of the culprits fall into a few distinct categories. Here’s a rundown of the most common visitors.

Feathered Fig Fanatics: Birds

Birds are often the number one suspect. They are drawn to the bright color and soft flesh of ripening figs. They can descend in flocks and do significant damage in a short amount of time.

Common culprits include: Crows, Blue Jays, Mockingbirds, Starlings, and even Orioles. The specific species will depend on your region.

The evidence they leave: Look for V-shaped peck marks, small holes, or fruit that has been hollowed out, leaving just the skin hanging on the branch. They are daytime feeders, so the damage will appear between sunrise and sunset.

Agile Acrobats: Squirrels and Rodents

If you have squirrels in your yard, you can bet they have their eyes on your figs. Their incredible climbing and jumping abilities make them a formidable foe. Other rodents are also major fans of this sweet treat.

Common culprits include: Gray squirrels, fox squirrels, chipmunks, and, especially in urban areas, rats.

The evidence they leave: Squirrels are messy eaters. You’ll often find half-eaten figs on the ground below the tree. Look for ragged gnaw marks from their incisors. Sometimes, the fruit will be missing entirely, carried off to be eaten elsewhere.

Nocturnal Nibblers: Raccoons and Opossums

These critters do their work under the cover of darkness. They are excellent climbers and have a strong appetite for sweet fruits. If your figs are disappearing overnight, one of these is likely the reason.

Common culprits include: Raccoons and Opossums.

The evidence they leave: Raccoons are strong and can break smaller branches in their quest for the best fruit. Look for larger bite marks than a squirrel would leave. You might also spot their distinctive, hand-like tracks in the soft soil around the base of the tree.

Ground-Level Grazers: Deer and Rabbits

While less common for mature, tall trees, these animals can be a major problem for young or dwarf fig trees. They can’t reach the high-up fruit, but they will happily browse anything within their reach.

Common culprits include: Whitetail deer and various species of rabbits.

The evidence they leave: Deer leave behind ragged tears on leaves and branches, as they lack upper incisors. They can strip all the foliage and fruit from the lower four to five feet of a tree. Rabbits will leave clean, 45-degree angle cuts on smaller twigs and can girdle the bark of young trees in winter.

The Six-Legged Thieves: Insects

Don’t forget the little guys! A host of insects are also attracted to the high sugar content of figs, especially as they ripen and soften. Their damage can also attract larger pests.

Common culprits include: Fig beetles (also called June bugs), ants, wasps, and yellow jackets.

The evidence they leave: Insects will burrow into the fruit, often through the “eye” or ostiole at the bottom. You’ll see small holes, sticky residue, and sometimes the insects themselves feasting inside a split-open fig.

Playing Detective: How to Identify the Fig Thief in Your Garden

Now that you know the suspects, it’s time to put on your detective hat. Correctly identifying the pest is the most crucial step, as the solution for birds is very different from the solution for deer. Here are some what animals eat figs off the tree tips for your investigation.

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Examine the Evidence: What Do the Bite Marks Tell You?

The damage itself is your best clue. Get up close and inspect a half-eaten fig.

  • Small, precise holes or scoops: This is classic bird damage. Their beaks act like little spears.
  • Ragged gnaw marks: This points to squirrels or other rodents. You can almost see the marks from their front teeth.
  • Large, clumsy bites: If it looks like a big chunk was taken out, suspect a raccoon or opossum.
  • Burrowed holes and tunnels: This is a sure sign of insects.

Timing is Everything: Day Raiders vs. Night Raiders

When is the damage occurring? This simple question can cut your suspect list in half. Check your tree in the evening before dusk and again first thing in the morning.

If the damage happened during the day, your primary suspects are birds and squirrels. If your figs were fine last night but damaged this morning, you’re dealing with nocturnal creatures like raccoons, opossums, or rats.

Look for Footprints and Other Clues

Check the ground around the base of your fig tree, especially after a rain. Soft soil is great for capturing prints. You can also lay down a fine layer of sand or flour in a small patch to see who comes visiting overnight. Look for droppings, broken twigs, or tufts of fur caught on the bark.

Protecting Your Harvest: Best Practices for Keeping Animals Away

Alright, you’ve identified your fig thief. Now for the fun part: taking action! This complete what animals eat figs off the tree care guide focuses on humane and effective strategies to ensure your harvest ends up in your kitchen, not a critter’s stomach.

Physical Barriers: Your First Line of Defense

Without a doubt, the most effective way to protect your figs is to physically prevent animals from reaching them. It’s a bit of work up front but pays off season after season.

Netting: For birds and squirrels, netting is the gold standard.

  1. Choose the right net: Use a flexible bird netting with a 1/4 to 1/2-inch mesh. This is small enough to keep birds out but won’t trap beneficial insects like bees.
  2. Build a frame: This is the pro tip! Don’t just drape the net over the tree. Animals can still press against it and eat the fruit. Use PVC pipes, bamboo poles, or wooden stakes to build a frame around the tree. Then, drape the netting over the frame.
  3. Secure the bottom: Make sure to secure the netting to the trunk or to the ground with landscape staples. Squirrels and raccoons will find any gap.

Organza Bags: If you have a smaller tree or just want to protect a few special figs, small mesh bags (often sold as wedding favor bags) are a fantastic solution. Simply slip one over each developing fig and pull the drawstring tight. It’s foolproof!

Fencing: For ground-level threats like deer and rabbits, a sturdy fence is the only long-term solution. A deer fence should be at least 8 feet tall to be effective.

Strategic Deterrents: Making Your Tree Less Appealing

Deterrents work by scaring animals away or making the fruit taste bad. They can be very effective, but often need to be rotated or reapplied to keep the critters guessing.

  • Scare Tactics: Shiny objects that flash in the sun are great for startling birds. Try hanging old CDs, Mylar “scare tape,” or pie tins from the branches. For a bigger fright, a motion-activated sprinkler can be surprisingly effective against everything from birds to deer.
  • Fake Predators: A plastic owl or hawk can work, but you must move it every few days. Wildlife is smart; if the “predator” never moves, they’ll quickly realize it’s not a threat.
  • Scent & Taste Repellents: You can buy commercial repellents made from ingredients like hot pepper wax or predator urine. You can also make your own by mixing crushed garlic, cayenne pepper, and a drop of dish soap with water in a spray bottle. Remember to reapply after it rains!

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Fig Protection

Part of being a great gardener is learning to work with nature, not just against it. When considering how to what animals eat figs off the tree, adopting sustainable methods can create a healthier garden for everyone. These are some of my favorite eco-friendly what animals eat figs off the tree strategies.

Encouraging Natural Predators

Instead of just scaring away the animals eating your figs, why not invite their predators to your garden? Installing an owl box can provide a safe home for a family of owls, who are nature’s best rodent control. Planting native flowers will attract beneficial insects that can help control pest insect populations.

The Importance of a Clean Garden

This is one of the simplest yet most effective tips. Don’t let fallen or overripe fruit accumulate on the ground. This rotting fruit sends out a powerful signal to every pest in the neighborhood that a feast is available. A tidy garden is a less tempting one.

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Harvest Promptly

The riper the fig, the more sugar it contains, and the more aromatic it becomes. Animals have an incredible sense of smell and will target the ripest fruits first. Check your tree daily and harvest figs as soon as they are perfectly ripe (they will be soft to the touch and droop slightly on the stem). Don’t leave them on the tree as an open invitation.

Common Problems & What Not to Do

In our quest to protect our fruit, it’s easy to make mistakes. Here are a few common problems with what animals eat figs off the tree and some practices to avoid.

The Trap of Harmful Poisons

Please, avoid using poisons or toxic baits in your garden. They are indiscriminate and can harm or kill pets, beneficial wildlife, and the natural predators you want to encourage. They disrupt the entire ecosystem and can have tragic, unintended consequences.

Relying on a Single Solution

Animals are adaptable. A fake owl might work for a week, but the squirrels will eventually figure it out. The best approach is an integrated one. Combine a physical barrier like a net with a deterrent like scare tape for maximum effect.

Overlooking Tree Health

A healthy, vigorous tree is better able to withstand a little pressure from wildlife. A stressed tree is an easy target. Ensure your fig tree is getting adequate water, sunlight, and nutrients. A strong tree will produce more fruit, meaning there’s more to go around!

Frequently Asked Questions About Protecting Figs from Animals

Will animals eat unripe figs?

Generally, no. Most animals are attracted to the high sugar content and soft texture of ripe figs. Unripe figs contain a latex-like sap that is bitter and unappealing. The animals are usually waiting for the fruit to ripen, just like you are.

Is it safe to eat a fig that an animal has nibbled on?

It’s best not to. Animal mouths can carry bacteria that can be harmful to humans. If a fruit has been pecked or bitten, it’s safer to discard it or add it to your compost pile. Cut your losses and focus on protecting the remaining fruit.

When is the best time to net my fig tree?

The best time to install netting is just as the figs begin to show color and soften. If you put it on too early, it can be a hassle to work around for the whole season. If you wait too long, the animals will have already identified your tree as a food source.

Do fake owls really work to scare birds away?

They can, but with a big caveat: you have to move the owl every 2-3 days. Birds are intelligent and will quickly learn that a stationary object is not a threat. Move it to a different branch or a different side of the tree to keep them on their toes.

Your Fig Harvest, Reclaimed

Discovering that wildlife has been enjoying your figs can be frustrating, but it’s a sign that you have a healthy, thriving ecosystem in your backyard! That’s one of the hidden benefits of what animals eat figs off the tree—it shows your garden is alive.

But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your entire harvest. By playing detective to identify the culprit, choosing the right physical barriers, and using smart deterrents, you can strike a happy balance. You now have a complete what animals eat figs off the tree guide to help you succeed.

Remember to be patient and persistent. A combination of strategies is almost always more effective than just one. Now you have the knowledge and tools to protect your delicious figs.

Go forth and guard that harvest. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
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