beckygardener said:

Sue - These are not tiny mice but larger rats. They literally stand up on their hind legs and pull the scapes down with their front paws to reach the seed pods (that's my guess). No climbing. When they are hungry they will do whatever they have to, to survive.

OK, I did get that they are rats but even if they are getting hold of the scapes and pulling it might work (I was thinking maybe they were climbing part-way up and then the scapes toppled with the weight). If the scapes were slippery or gooey with Vaseline at maximum paw height it still might stop them because they wouldn't be able to get a good hold on the scape.

I would still spray them all with hot peppers.

Sue & FrillyLily - I don't know if vaseline would deter them, but I went ahead and cut the scapes. I don't want to lose anymore seed pods trying to find out, especially if I can save the scape with pods in a vase of water until they ripen. The rat(s) got ahold of some of my most desired crosses. I am pretty bummed out about it, but I guess there is always next year. If most of the pod scapes I collected do survive long enough in water to ripen, then I will have been able to save the rest of the seeds. I am hoping that will be the case. I am quite sure I will be able to harvest the the pods and get viable seeds from them. The pods have been developing on the scapes for over a month now. Not sure how long it takes for seeds to mature, but it would seem it would be soon since I have already collected quite a few seeds from ripe pods.

I will be checking my backyard every where I can think of to search for anymore rat nests. Hopefully they will or have left my backyard now that they know they are not safe from ME!

I just wanted to post an update about the cut pods I put in water to await ripening ....

I have been harvesting seeds from pods every day, drying them out for 3 days, and then refrigerating them. All the seeds so far appear to be fine. The pods were close to maturity, so that was probably a determining point for success. I am so glad that I did cut them and bring them inside because I KNOW the mama rat would've destroyed most all of them. Instead, I have several hundred seeds collected. Many were crosses that I am excited to grow out, so despite the attack by a rodent, most of my seeds were salvageable. Thank goodness!

If this should happen to others here, be aware that cutting the scapes with maturing pods and placing them in water to continue to ripen DOES indeed work!

@beckygardener
I am having the same problem, I just cut all my scape's off and brought them inside and put them in sugar water, I have about 40 pods just laying around in hopes they ripen and the seeds are good, most where black seeds. I now have seed pods arrangements also. Since it has been a few years since ur post, did your seeds survive and produce daylily plants?

I went ahead and deadheaded most of my daylilies, I hopes that in a few weeks I will get new scape's so then I can pollinate them again. But since something was eating them, and after reading your post, it was best to bring them inside. So if I get new scapes, with more flowers and the seed pods mature it will be great, I can pollinate the new ones and hope they make it outside to mature.

Catherine - yes, I did get valid seeds. And ironically, I just cut my seed pod scapes again because something has been eating my pods again. Probably rats. Ugh! So, I, too have a seed pod bouquet.

Hemlady said:Poison is our only option here other than trapping them. We really don't have any owls around. About the only animals that may feed on a dead rat carcus would be possums or cats. I sure wouldn't want to harm any cats though. I don't mind the neighborhood cats visiting, especially since I had to have mine put down in March.

Cindy, so sorry to hear about your cat. Just two days ago we had to put our cat, of 18 years, down. They really become one of the family.

beckygardener said:

Becky, that's an impressive bunch of pod scapes. I personally think that what you are doing is the very best way to get them to mature. Best of luck with your pods.