What's Happening to my Oranges?

[DougStark]

We have a rat problem here in Phoenix also. The local media says they're Norway rats. I have two pomegranate bushes that were loaded with ripe, red fruit. Every single fruit was eaten, inside out.

I bought one of those electric rat traps (thinking it was humane.) I've killed 2 big rats with it so far. But for some reason, my navel oranges are still on my tree, not eaten up.(??)

[TristramShandy]

One of our neighbors has rats eating their avocados. They've picked them off the tree and eaten them on their back deck!

[RosieSD]

There's another possibility besides fruit rats.

When orange trees aren't getting enough water, or the fruit is left on the trees for too long, OR there has been a hotter than normal spell (or a combo of all three) oranges have a tendency to split open at the bottom, which can look like something has been biting on them.

So, in addition to the suggestions about what to do for fruit rats, the OP might check his watering schedule and make sure to harvest all fruit in a timely manner. Can't do much about the heat, but stepping up watering during heat spells can help.

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

There's another possibility besides fruit rats.

When orange trees aren't getting enough water, or the fruit is left on the trees for too long, OR there has been a hotter than normal spell (or a combo of all three) oranges have a tendency to split open at the bottom, which can look like something has been biting on them.

So, in addition to the suggestions about what to do for fruit rats, the OP might check his watering schedule and make sure to harvest all fruit in a timely manner. Can't do much about the heat, but stepping up watering during heat spells can help.

Having had a large orange tree at my home has taught me that the greatest danger is over watering. The oranges split.

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by LuvSouthOC

Having had a large orange tree at my home has taught me that the greatest danger is over watering. The oranges split.

Good point! I wonder if oranges are more sensitive to environmental conditions than other types of citrus fruit.

I never run into problems with splitting (or rats) with our grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, or lime trees.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

Good point! I wonder if oranges are more sensitive to environmental conditions than other types of citrus fruit.

I never run into problems with splitting (or rats) with our grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, or lime trees.

The rats actually went after my tangerines as well, but never the Meyer lemons or limes. Their favorite was the blood oranges.

In my case, there as no doubt that it was rats...I actually saw them go after the fruit.

I don’t know what kind of rats they were, but they were large enough to give me nightmares.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

The rats like any kind of fruit. The only thing I've seen them not want is grapefruit because of how the peel tastes I guess. Maybe lemon/limes are too bitter too.

[cruitr]

My next door neighbor had similar looking fruit. It turned out to be rats.

But his rats were stubborn rats. The rat exterminator had to come out several times to fix the problem.