Possums?

paula says...
I'm not sure if that is possums Caroline. The ones at my place tear the whole fruit off, and that looks a bit too delicate for them to do. I have no idea what sort of animal would leave the stones like that.

Wayne says...
"and will the peaches be next?"

There's every chance they will be I feel. They are pretty tricky critters whatever they are. Like the possums I think the flying foxes would pull the whole fruit away so I'm leaning toward rats, are there any fruit scraps on the ground Caroline

Jantina says...
The fruit has been picked incredibly clean by that photo, I'm mystified but if I had to guess I'd say rats or birds. The torch idea is a good one.

Pauline says...
Wow. We are also in Adelaide. We had possums living in our roof for months (thanks landlord for taking so long to sort it out).
I know they are still around as we hear them sometimes, and they have been eating my pears,while still in place on the tree, they don't seem ripe enough for them to finish a whole one yet, and they have moved onto the figs for the moment.
Anyway, we have only actually seen them 3 times in the last year, but they have definatly been here the whole time. Anyway, my point being that they are cunning.

Caroline says...
PS Nothing on the ground, not a shred of evidence (no galah poo either)

Kay says...
The interesting thing about Caroline's dilemma is that the entire crop disappeared overnight (more than a hundred) and every stone was still attached to the tree! Possums would hold the fruit and drop uneaten portions to the ground (they do it to my lemons). For rats to eat every peach in one night....that is a very scary thought and makes me glad I live in Melbourne.