The raccoons are relentless
Easy to see why these creatures are called bandits and it’s not just because the mask they wear on their face. They stole over 100lbs of grapes in 1 week from my grapevines a while back. So I put up an electric fence, three wires, based on info I found on the web. Just not good enough to stop them. I put a deer cam up to catch the action. They got through the fence on two separate nights as seen here and under the bird netting. Gotta figure out how to keep these guys out of the muscadines now!
Installed an Electric Fence and Bird Netting
In a last ditch attempt to save some grapes this year, I’ve installed a solar powered electric fence, bird netting and some owls. If the birds and/or raccoons still take the muscadines, I don’t know what else to do. The fence charger is a bit overkill, granted, but if a raccoon touches the fence I want them to feel it :-0. This one can protect the vineyard, orchard, garden and about another 23+ miles of fence!
Two strings of wire. One at 5-6inches above ground and the other at 12inches. I could put another at 18-20 if they are jumping over. I put out a couple of deer infrared cameras as well with hopes I catch some of the action!
I also used some old conduit to keep the netting off the muscadines.
And the last attempt to keep the birds at bay. 3 owls placed in various locations.
Only time will tell if any of this works!
Aerial view of vineyard taken with quadcopter
Blanc Du Bios far left. Lomanto and Black Spanish second from left. Nobel, Black Beauty, Darlene and Ison’s Muscadine next three rows. Had some muscadine die off this year. All but two are growing back.
Took a walk to clear my head then google some help!
I’m sure some of the grapes may have been taken by birds, but after looking around on the ground I see evidence of who took the majority of the grapes. Raccoons! All I did by putting on the netting, was give them a great way to climb up the vines (nets) and reach through to grab the grapes. Now that all the grapes are gone, the only thing left to protect are the muscadines. They are just beginning veraison. Looks like I need to come up with a way to protect against them. Quick searches show electric fences are a good deterrent. Here are some pics of the Muscadine that I plan to protect!
These are Black Beauty muscadine.
Nobel muscadine below.
I’ve been robbed! Maybe I’m not cut out for farming!!!
I cleaned my picking bins, and was ready to pick the Black Spanish grapes, but as I walked up I noticed something. ALL the grapes were gone! WTH! I put up the netting! Where did they go! I don’t see any feathers or other clues that thousands of birds must have had a feast at my expense.
Preventing the birds from getting these grapes
The birds got all the Lomanto grapes, so I’m going to put the bird nets on the Black Spanish.
The nets are on! They still might be able to get to some of them, but hopefully I can protect the majority. Tucked and pined nice and neatly on the bottom so they can’t get in that way.
Black Spanish grapes getting close
The brix is only 15, but color is looking good. I’m hoping the brix will get up to at least 20, but this is the first year of fruiting. These vines were three years old when I got them, with great root systems. Second year in the vineyard. I tried to limit the fruit this year to only 2-3 bunches per vine, but as you can see, more grew on some vines.
The Birds the Birds…
I was so looking forward to testing the sugar levels in the Lomanto grapes today, but the birds beat me to it. I only let a few bunches grow this year, but all were stripped clean. Here is what was left…
Before and After
Lasterday Wines 
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