[ex-cavator]

Last year, our first on the plot, we planted a gooseberry bush and had a fairly good crop, but when just about ripe, they suddenly all disappeared - no trace at all, none on the bush or on the ground. The same thing has happened again this year. Who's the culprit? Any ideas? 

[Aunt Sally]

Foxes will strip gooseberry bushes and I also watched blackbirds taking them too.

[Spana]

Blackbirds and squirrels take mine. 

The squirrels suck the pulp out and chuck the skins on the ground for me to clear up 

last year they made a little picnic table 

[justviolet]

The birds had mine too. Just need to get some netting or a cage for next year.

[sunshineband]

Blackbirds and squirrels take mine. 

The squirrels suck the pulp out and chuck the skins on the ground for me to clear up 

last year they made a little picnic table 

Love this photo 

Glad it's not on my plot though 

See picnic tables like this is the woods, with remains of pine cones on them 

[ex-cavator]

Blackbirds and squirrels take mine. 

The squirrels suck the pulp out and chuck the skins on the ground for me to clear up 

last year they made a little picnic table 

The squirrels made that?

Clever squirrels. Perhaps they could make me one. And a bench. And a shed .... 

Seriously, though, thanks for your replies. Hopefully, then, it's just the birds doing their worst. I was beginning to think there might be more dodgy dealings afoot 

I'll make sure I cage the bush next year 

[savbo]

it's wood pigeons on our site. Last year they stripped every ripe goosegog and were so fat they broke branches so it looked like someone had been rolling over the bushes. Chicken wire over the bushes this year, trickier to pick but at least we got to eat plenty

[LivvyW]

Either wood pigeons or squirrels here. Completely stripped overnight, no leftover evidence.

Never knew foxes would!