Chipmunk's as Pests

Trouble shoot problems you are having with your cactus.
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jerrytheplater
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Location: Bloomingdale, NJ (USDA Zone 6b)
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Chipmunk's as Pests

Post by jerrytheplater »

My wife and I were away from our home last week on vacation in the Adirondack Park in NY State. I went on a 3 day canoe trip, while my wife stayed behind with the other families in our group. I left my cactus outdoors as I normally do. When I got back I discovered a Chipmunk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipmunk had eaten the center of one of my Frailea parviflora and it also ate the flower buds off of my other F. parviflora plant. I suppose it was after the seeds contained in the plants and just got carried away and continued eating the cactus. In the photo you'll see that I have plenty of seedlings growing around both pots. I guess I really do need to transplant them now.

I am going to wait to see what happens to this eaten plant. I'm fairly certain it will send out pups around the eaten surface. This species does produce offsets, and my other plant has one forming now.

I would have taken a photo of my other plant, since I brought both to work today, but my battery died and I don't have the charger here. This photo was my first attempt at editing a RAW image. I am a total novice there. The focus leaves a lot to be desired. Still learning my camera.
rsz 2022-7-5 Frailea parviflora.jpg
rsz 2022-7-5 Frailea parviflora.jpg (177.46 KiB) Viewed 860 times
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
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greenknight
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Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: Chipmunk's as Pests

Post by greenknight »

If you keep it dry until it's well healed, the cactus will probably survive.

As for the photo - the important part is clear enough, that's all that matters.
Spence :mrgreen:
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jerrytheplater
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Re: Chipmunk's as Pests

Post by jerrytheplater »

I just went out and took some photos of how this Frailea is recovering. It has filled in the hole in the apex of the plant and it has also started a new pup. This is only in about a 6 week period of time. Fast growth.
rsz 2022-8-15 Damage recovery 1.jpg
rsz 2022-8-15 Damage recovery 1.jpg (117.9 KiB) Viewed 716 times
rsz 2022-8-15 Damage recovery 2.jpg
rsz 2022-8-15 Damage recovery 2.jpg (108.88 KiB) Viewed 716 times
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
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toadstar
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Location: Nebraska, USA
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Re: Chipmunk's as Pests

Post by toadstar »

It's hard to be mad at chipmunks when they're so darn cute.
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jerrytheplater
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Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:38 pm
Location: Bloomingdale, NJ (USDA Zone 6b)
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Re: Chipmunk's as Pests

Post by jerrytheplater »

I don't have any problems being mad at them.
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
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