Sunflower stem being eaten (established plant)

[Carrot82]

Hi, just wondering if anyone knows what is doing this to my sunflower stem, it is potted and 4 foot, ready to flower soon. Thanks.

 

[roadrunner]

I have the same problem I just noticed yesterday. My first guess is a gray squirrel, because I have a problem with them eating the flower heads off my sunflowers before they've even had a chance to form seeds. However, this plant doesn't even have a flower head yet.

It's currently about 2-meters high and I don't know if it can now form a flower head. So I'm still monitoring.

 

[Carrot82]

Ah, this makes sense, a lot of grey squirrels in the area. Thanks for your response. I don’t know whether to put something outside they’d rather eat or would this encourage them into the garden more? Hmm.

 

[roadrunner]

I have two cats, so the ones I plant away from trees are safe, it's only the sunflowers I plant near a tree that are at risk.

 

[Carrot82]

Thanks again for your help, I would never have guessed the squirrels were eating it haha.