In an open field for a greenhouse growing operation some type of critter has chewed on the plastic watering lines. Any idea on what may be doing this? Farmer thinks it could be coyotes, but there are all types of small critters in the area. Any ideas? I am going out tomorrow to inspect.

rats...


I once saw a feral hog dig up a entire irrigation system in a yard in Scottsdale

I've seen both canines and rodents chew lines so can't make the call sight unseen. If I had to guess I'd say rodents.

Have had both coyotes, and raccoons this year doing this (verified). Have known coyotes to do this in nursery's while in OR and of course as Vinke mentioned if you have hogs they will destroy a water system, even heavier metal pipe I've seen them lift and bend and ultimately break or cause leaks on rangeland here in NM.

I remember years ago someone saying the pipe had some manner of oil that was fishy in odor built into it (not for scent reasons of course) but of course in a dry area or during hot times, why not gnaw on a water supply.

The other aspect during earlier summer or mid summer is young wildlife, coyotes, raccoon, etc...who chew on things just like our domestics do. One of the raccoon problems I saw a month back was young coon chewing on the pipe in a yard.

(in scottsdale were they javelina?)

My guess is that gophers are the ones. We have that problem with any irrigation line under 2 inches. Also underground power and irrigation control lines. If no gophers are around squirrels and rats are good suspects.

Thats interesting coast, if the damage was below ground would have to go with subterranean critters of the rodent family.
If p. gophers were eating lines they'd be worth more cash here... Don't get those calls, just piles of dirt in the yard or concerns
about the garden or shrubs...

Have the same thing in my barn. Likely squirrels chewing the crap out of plastic gas cans, have ruined 4 so far.

Years ago i had problems with chipmunks and squirrels, small teeth marks, chewing on plastic spring water lines. Found out that you could not touch the pipe with bare hands, had to ware gloves. They were after the salt left from skin on the pipe.

I replaced a old line that had been in service for years with no problems until it froze and split. Rolled out a new one with bare hands and that one did not last a week.
Bought a new roll and pressure washed it real good and rolled that one out with gloves, no problems after that.
Just my experience.
Dave

Animals with pronounced canine teeth (canids, felines, carnivores) will probably dimple the line (or puncture it) with their canines. Rodents generally leave grooves in correlation to the size of their incisors.

I just took care of some rabbits, chewing .25" irrigation lines at a nursery.

Yes,,,,,thinking one thing,and typed another.......

No worries Vinke, I thought I might have missed a new spread (which happens all the time). AZ does have feral hogs as you likely know, quite a few over near Havasau and then a bunch have been reported SE of Tucson. Javelina dig like champs! The first place I saw that digging was near a refuge here in NM. One of the staff reported the rooting and wondered if feral hogs had invaded. While there were sightings of feral hogs, my trail cams on the site showed 7 javelina coming in and rooting up the cattails in this brushy area.

Cool critter the javelina!

Being from Wisconsin, the only thing I would be interested in is, how does a javelina taste on a spit over charcoal.

My dad once lost a hog that broke out of a fence. Before he could locate it, the local bartender had a message for him. It read something like this: "Carl, you raise the best tasting hogs in the county. If any more get out, let us know. signed, Your Neighbors."

Got any pictures of the chew marks should be able to tell . Wood chucks squirrels rats have that beaver looking chewing marks . Coyote would look like a dog chewed on it should be easy to tell atleast if it's rodent or k9 I would think .