Only time I had a rodent problem was when I put coconut in the bin. Two days later I found a neat hole gnawed in the side of the bin and a rats nest inside. I bought a large box trap, baited it with the coconut and caught three rats over three consecutive nights (which is pretty good, considering my bins are on my porch...three floors up). I then ran a scientific experiment (which is still in progress) to determine whether rats could breathe underwater. I found a rectangular plastic container, just slightly larger and at least an inch or two higher than the box trap. I put the trap inside and filled the container with water. The experiment was a success though unfortunately/fortunately the subject/victim died. Ah Well, such is Science. The search goes on. Shaul

So, here's a related question: Has anybody ever had an issue with a mouse or similar rodent killing their just planted seedlings? This spring, I planted my seedlings and within or day or two they started to get cut off at the stem. Since this has NEVER happened to me, and I had cutworm protection on the stems (the seedlings were getting cut off right above the standard 2-3 inch wrapping) so I assumed it was a rabbit. Just to be sure, I later replaced the wrappings with 4 inch lengths of vinyl tubing, which just moved the knawing-off problem higher on the stem. If it had been a groundhog, I would have noticed a large hole in the garden fence, not to mention, groundhogs generally don't eat one or two at a time. So, I wrapped up the cages (I have them in Concrete Wire cages) with a 1 inch plastic rabbit fence two feet up each cage. I kept loosing seedlings. So now I was completely baffled but thought perhaps this small rabbit was able to squeeze under my cages because there was an inch or two of straw mulch that perhaps created a way for them to get in. I sprayed the plants with the absolutely disgusting rabbit/deer spray. The very next morning, two more seedlings were gone, although one was just laying next to where it was cut off. I reapplied, hoping that maybe the animal finally got the idea that the plants were distasteful. The next morning, two more gone, but this time I found something strange. I found that the seedling had been cut off and dragged halfway under the straw mulch next to where it had been cut off. So, whatever it was that was killing my seedlings was actually coming up from under the mulch. When I posted this story earlier this year in the pest forum, it was suggested that it is probably a mouse. Has anybody else ever experienced something like this, and if so, how on earth should I sheild my plants from this problem next year? My dad suggested cutting off soda cans and sticking them into the ground around the seedlings. I think that might work, but I also think the mouse could just go right over it. Then again, the freak mouse that did it this year will almost certainly be dead by this time next year. They just don't live that long.

You did the right thing! Orange -- even yellow -- fruit will ripen fine inside (and no danger they'll split after a heavy rain). The taste will not be affected.

Lots of critters like a tasty worm or 2000. I think worms are basically the free beer of the natural world.