1soh: Could be deer, depending on your location and particular residential situation, neither of which you describe. Deer love strawberry leaves. Shine a flashlight out there some night and see if there are any large, brown creatures around. 2.5 feet is a perfect height for comfortable deer browsing. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Would ants eat a large hole like that? I haven't noticed slugs in the berry patch... I've definitely seen ants on slug damaged strawberries, but I I don't know whether ants would feed on undamaged fruit. Are you sure that you don't have slugs and/or snails? If you haven't already, do an after dark flashlight inspection. That's when you're most likely to catch them in action. Given the sheer number of slugs, snails, and pill bugs that inhabit my 1/4-acre lot, I resort to Sluggo Plus when berries begin to ripen.

Agree with the snails/slugs as the most likely culprit. And Sluggo will work very well, and is safe to use for your strawberries. Believe me, if you think you're upset about the leaves being eaten by the snails and slugs, just wait until they ruin the fruit! Lay down Sluggo in a 2 to 3" row all around your strawberry bed, and sprinkle throughout the bed. You can also use Sluggo Plus if you're also having earwig problems, great new product! For a non-organic solution, Corry's makes a liquid product called, "Deadline" which is Metaldehyde. Normally, in pellet or bait formulation, you don't want to use this if you have dogs or small children, but in liquid formulation, you can lay a line down around the perimeter of your strawberry patch, and if a snail crosses it, it will die. You'll need to reapply if it rains. Strawberry patches are an ideal place for snails and slugs to hide out, so you really also have to hand-pick them out in the evening or early morning as well, to get the population down. We are having a snail, slug, ant and earwig explosion here in California, due to all the rain we've enjoyed :-( Patty S.

If I lived near by the strawberry varmit would be me! ;* ) Something to consider (particularly if the culprit is birds)...try planting a mulberry tree somewhere else (not near the strawberries). It should be ripe with mulberries right about the same time as the strawberries are ready and would give them a more attractive alternative. You might also plant other wild berries like wild raspberries. Also might make sure they have plenty of water or otherwise they'll be attracted to the fruit for its water content too. This works especially well around tomato plants. In my experience, if they have plenty to eat and drink they will not be as attracted to your crops.