Question
I'm in Portland, OR.  My sunflowers are about 3 feet tall.  A week ago, one was gnawed off at about 6" from the ground.  It looked like there was a mole mound near it.  Yesterday I found another one gnawed off about 10" off the ground.  A 6" chunk of stem was about 6 feet away.  There were puncture marks in the remains.  I thought it was a dog but there were no tracks.  Tonight I notice that the three remaining plants all have extensive damage from the ground up to about 18".  There are numerous puncture wounds and strips of "bark" peeled off.  The worst damage is near the ground.  There are no tracks around the plants and no sign of mole activity.  We have squirrels in the area but I've not seen raccoons.  What is causing this?

Answer
Jeff, it sounds like rabbits based on your description. They normally feed in the evening or very early in the morning. They love plants that are still in the seedling stage, since these tend to be less woody and more tender.

Regardless of the type of pest, your only alternative is to trap it. This can be done safely and with no harm to the animal. Havahart makes several live traps. Simply bait them with peanut butter and apple slices, set the cage door, and check it every morning. Once caught, relocate the animal to a park or wooded area at least one mile from your home. This should take care of the problem.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike