Something pulling up Squash seedlings

[PhilosopherStorm]

This is a new one for me.. I recently planted my winter squash, and as they have begun to sprout, I noticed the plants pulled up out of the ground and laying next to the now empty hole.. These seedlings are just barely breaking the surface, no more than an inch high when they are attacked...

Any ideas as to what might be doing this and how to stop it?

[drobinson]

My best guesss is that some kind of bird is pulling up your seedlings. I have had that happen as well, and while I never caught a bird doing it, they are the only critters in my garden that would do such. I have also had them (or something) pull up my white row markers and leave them laying beside where they were stuck in the ground. As a child, I recall Dad getting upset with the crows because they would sometimes go down the planted row of corn that was up a couple of inches, pull it up and eat the remaining corn seed on the bottom. Do your seedlings still have a bit of seed left on the bottom? We simply replanted in those days. Would putting grass clippings, or other green material, next to the seedlings, as a sort of disguise, possibly work?

[Nemophila]

I'd be willing to bet that your problem is birds. I caught my backyard buddies pulling up seedlings several times last spring. And I know for a fact that bluejays dug up most of my muskmelon seed this year. My only advice is : Whatever you do, don't let your feeder go empty, and if you don't have a feeder, then go get one! It has made a big difference here with the exception of the muskmelons, but in the birds defense I had been so tired from working the garden that I let the feeder stand empty for 3 days.

[KimB]

It's definitely the birds and this is a natural behavior for them. In my experience, squirrels and other critters don't tend to pluck the seedling up and drop it right there; they dig holes all over and if they do dig up a plant, they tend to move it more.

I've actually observed the birds plucking seedlings and small strawberry plants along with the berries. The worst offenders in my yard are Grackles, but Robins, Blue Jays and Crows do it too. The Grackles also just can't resist those white or yellow plant markers! I have to bury all but the very tip and pull it up if I want to read any info. They are crazy for them, but they don't take them. They seem to want to try and eat them. However, this behavior seems to settle down as Summer starts and I rarely have any more markers uprooted.

I must note that I have many feeders and I never let them run empty. Even so, the birds patrol all over my garden and potted plants several times a day - yes, I watch them. While they're great for eating pests, I have to be careful to cover any plants until they're too big for the birds to yank up and/or plant fairly large transplants. It's worth it for all the bug scavenging they do!