Animals think they own the planet

How dare they not recognize my dominion over them. Not sure who is doing it, but a few days ago, two 3" beet plants became 1/2" beet stems; the leaves were eaten off cleanly 1/2" above the ground. This morning, a few of my green beans suffered the same fate. No leaves, just stems. No signs of digging, no footprints, and adjacent plants were left alone (for now). The MM is still pretty fluffy, I would have at least expected footprints.

I had really hoped to ease into SFG this year, and wait til next year to make/buy row covers, animal screens, camera-triggered death lasers, etc. Never had a serious animal problem before, it's usually been disease or bugs or incompetence in past years.

This is a relatively urban area, although we have a very small patch of undeveloped woods behind us (maybe 1/2 acre total), and the only likely culprits I've seen around in the past are a local rabbit (up until now considered cute) who frequents the neighbor's yard; squirrels (not sure if they eat leaves); skunk (not sure they eat leaves, they usually dig, and I can usually smell when they've been wandering around); or one of the many birds around (who always eat my grass seeds, but have left my garden alone).

I guess it's either live with it, or make an animal screen. grrr.

I fenced my garden with wire the rabbits could not get thru, 2.5 ft tall. As long as I do not plant the sw.potatoes near the fence, I don't have trouble from the deer.
But, when you get 'camera-triggered death laser' let me know where/how much, for it would be nifty to have, for I do have an occasional neighbor's dog, and even an unwanted neighbor!
Jo

Must say, I was thinking along those lines. My boyfriend went through the same thing a coupla years ago; even considered buying a pellet gun to deal with squirrel & other "varmints". Finally he enclosed his (big row-style) garden with fencing, and some individual plants with little chicken wire boxes, after we put the cages around my two 4x4 SFGs.

I want one of those camera-triggered death lasers also!

My first thought was: RABBIT! Then I saw that you mentioned seeing a previously considered cute one in the area. Squirrels will dig and birds will uproot or peck. Rabbits will bite them right off and leave little stumps sticking out of the ground. Go with the death laser and make yourself some soft furry slippers!

GG