Grove Robbers

We are often asked about raccoons, squirrels, and other four-legged competitors for our fruit. Many people have the idea to humanely trap and relocate troublesome wild animals, but this is illegal as well as a very bad practice. Relocated animals enter a region which already has a maximal population of their species, so either they will die (a likely outcome after an exhausting night in a trap and a terrorizing ride in a vehicle), or they manage to outcompete an existing resident, which dies instead. There’s no getting around the fact that if you remove your territory from the wild habitat, not as many wild animals can live.

We produce enough fruit that we can afford to share some with wild creatures. When necessary, we protect using bagging and other barriers. When squirrel activity becomes intolerable, they are attacked by pellet gun, and they quickly learn to keep clear of our territory except for the occasional scout. When absolutely necessary, we humanely trap and euthanize raccoons and possums. If all this troubles you, we ask whether you have ever bought food in a grocery store, and if so, why it is that wild animals did not eat it first…