If an aster is yanked out sideways with scattered soil, what is the primary cause of the damage?
Answer
Caching food or investigating the loose soil medium.
Damage to a perennial like an aster can manifest in two primary ways: direct consumption of plant tissue (stripped leaves or eaten stems) or soil disturbance. When an aster is found yanked out of the ground, lying sideways with soil scattered, it strongly indicates the squirrel was engaged in activity related to caching buried treasures or investigating the freshly worked, loose medium. Squirrels associate disturbed dirt or pots with ideal locations for burying food, meaning the plant itself may be collateral damage resulting from the digging investigation rather than being the target of consumption.
Related Questions
Which underground storage organs do squirrels show a strong preference for raiding in gardens?What role do Asters, black-eyed Susans, and coneflowers serve near vulnerable crops?If an aster is yanked out sideways with scattered soil, what is the primary cause of the damage?What physical method is recommended for protecting small, newly established asters from burrowing damage?Why is cayenne pepper effective as a selective deterrent against squirrels near asters?What describes the general foraging nature of tree squirrels regarding their palate, influencing their attraction to gardens?What specific precaution must be taken when applying capsaicin-based sprays to aster foliage?What materials can be applied as soil topping to frustrate squirrels attempting to dig near newly planted asters?What is the potential risk associated with dedicating a separate area to offering corn or sunflower seeds to squirrels?Which group of herbs is noted as being left alone by some ground squirrels, similar to the general avoidance of Asters?If observers note squirrels stripping leaves off violets without consuming them, what behavior is suggested?