what is eating these oranges

[Chuck]

Would have thought its ants,  but don't see any

[in my dreams]

Opossums or rats?

[TimG]

The other day I watched a ground squirrel awkwardly climb up my little plum tree and snag a plum

[tcaarabians]

I'm guessing ground  squirrels too.   You can wrap the base of the tree with a bunch of wire. It may not do any good.  But, it's worth a try. I'll never forget the day I brought my brand new truck home.  There were the squirrels up in an apricot tree .. dropping their rejects onto my new truck.  Where are you that you can grow oranges like that?  Those oranges look like they should have been picked.  cheryl o7o

p.s In this photo it looks like you have some leaf mold going on as well.  In the shot.. upper, mid-right, leaf.

[Jim Wilkins]

Ground squirrels will eat fruit.  So will Brown Rats that we have up here.  Using a 2-3 foot piece of tin to wrap the base of the tree (so they can't climb) might work.  There are other ways...squirrelinator will catch them.  You decide their fate.

[Chuck]

I'm guessing ground  squirrels too.   You can wrap the base of the tree with a bunch of wire. It may not do any good.  But, it's worth a try. I'll never forget the day I brought my brand new truck home.  There were the squirrels up in an apricot tree .. dropping their rejects onto my new truck.  Where are you that you can grow oranges like that?  Those oranges look like they should have been picked.  cheryl o7o

p.s In this photo it looks like you have some leaf mold going on as well.  In the shot.. upper, mid-right, leaf.

Sorry, I forgot to mention this is in Orange County, my mother in laws house.  I've been away all day so just now saw I created a confusing situation on lacation.

[tcaarabians]

We've also been saving our plastic milk bottles for a guy here with a fruit orchard.  He ties them to the trees to deter squirrels and birds.  I guess it scares them off.
cheryl o7o