Something nibbles my cut paste...

[Oliver E]

Hello,
Does anyone have any idea what would be eating my cut paste?
Has anyone had this experience before?
I tried to attach photos but to large files apparently.
But you can clearly see something nibbles away in the darkness of night...
Would love to hear some ideas or experience.
Thanks

[Matty7]

Where / how do you store it? Or do you mean once it's on the tree?

Rats or mice would be my first guess...

[Oliver E]

Yes. Once applied on the trees.
Rodents are definitely a possibility but never seen any other damage, one would think if they were climbing about on the trees, branches would brake or things would get knocked over.
But, yes, very possible.

[TimS]

Seen the same thing on my trees, I'm assuming rodents but they haven't damaged the trees so I haven't stressed about it too much

[Oliver E]

Thanks.
I wasn't too concerned, like you said I haven't noticed damage from who ever it is. I was more curious, if anyone had had the same experience or know what it would be.

[wrcmad]

If you are using this stuff:

cut paste.jpg

I have issues at my place with wasps stealing it to build cocoons.

Tried and tested solution: when applying cut paste and it is soft and tacky, press and stick a small layer of aluminium foil of the same size over the application. The wasps will not bother it and leave it alone.

[Patmet]

I have this problem too with the cut putty slowly disappearing. I have always thought it was snails dissolving it. Have put snail pellets and seems to help.

[Oliver E]

Yes. That's the stuff I use.

Aha, that's an interesting one. I hadn't thought of wasps. There is definitely wasps that nest in the holes in the wall behind my benches.
Do you think they only take it when it's freshly applied? Cause I had some trees left alone and some with the paste removed.

And, yes I of course thought about snails too. Sometimes see evidence of them sliming around. Definitely possible.

[wrcmad]

Do you think they only take it when it's freshly applied?

Yes, only for the first few weeks until it hardens off.