Media stolen by animals?

[drone]

I keep a layer of coconut husk on top of my media. Recently i found the husk had been disturbed but thought nothing of it, and today the whole layer was gone. I wonder if the birds could have taken it for their nests. Anyone with similar experiences?

[Paul Mc]

Birds, possums, and squirrels have been what I personally have had problems with. And that's within the inner city. Rabbits haven't really been an issue. That's why this year I'm trying to figure out a construction to protect them. Squirrels ravaged my pots in the fall and ripped the roots almost entirely off of one of my newly acquired baby oncidiums.

[Orchid126]

If you can, sprinkle a ring of hydrated lime around the area. Animals don't like to get lime on their paws, as it bothers them when they eat. Works for vegetable plants, too. Flying things are a different matter. Perhaps a very light dusting on top of the medium of very hot pepper.

[Anisa]

My dogs eat hydroton and small pieces of lava stone . I think they like the crunchiness of it, or maybe it remind them of a dog food?

I seen some birds are taking coco fiber for their nests.

[peeweelovesbooks]

birds around here pick on the hydroton ALL THE TIME. they have even removed orchids from their pots.

[Junebug]

To discourage squirrels, try placing 1 1/2 to 2 inch pieces of polished river rock over the potting medium. It worked for me.

[fotofashion]

Last year I had trouble with squirrels eating (?) the spent back shields of my huge Platycerium bifurcatum. They did not seem to bother the new shields.
Some years ago, I got out of growing orchids because the squirrels ate my plants and killed them. Now I have taken to cutting pieces of nylon net to cover a plant when I see a problem.
I hope the acorn crop is good this year. We had hurricane Ike coming up two years ago just at the time the acorns were developing well and it looked like the majority were knocked to the ground and lost.
We had raccoons getting into the garage to eat the feed we kept there for a feral cat we feed. DH had to put the feed into the truck so they could not get at it.
The critters gotta eat too whether we like it or not. We just have to keep one step ahead of them.
Beverly A.