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Pretty much all my corn is like this.

partially nibbled corn

The tassle ends are all eaten. I doubt the stalk would support possums, so maybe rats, or possibly birds?

In NZ near the Zealandia eco-sanctuary

Graham Chiu
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  • Looks like rats to me Graham, but difficult to say with certainty as I don’t know your local environment. Perhaps a couple of night inspections (at different times) may reveal the culprit? That is how I determined what creature was eating my tomatoes! – andrewbuilder Mar 31 '18 at 06:42
  • Curious as to why they left half behind – Graham Chiu Mar 31 '18 at 06:49
  • Rats eat randomly and what they need at the time. They’re also return customers so check how that damage changes day to day and at what time. If more is eaten every day and it appears the damage was caused overnight, I’d almost guarantee the culprit is rat. The lower half of my once promising crop of “Beefsteak” tomatoes were eaten in portions over a period of nights until I decided to bring the pot inside (a backbreaking and unsustainable practice). – andrewbuilder Mar 31 '18 at 07:07
  • I'll put some rat traps out. – Graham Chiu Mar 31 '18 at 07:37
  • If you are in New Zealand it might be Rat-Monkeys (*Simian raticus*)... :P – benn Mar 31 '18 at 09:44

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Crows, they are horrid to eat corn exactly in this manner. Notice your corn stalks are still upright and not been bent over by a heavy animal. Also notice the corn has not been taken big chunks from, it's been pecked out with a sharp beak. I promise you it's them danged Ole Crows.

user18011
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  • Interesting idea but most rook colonies have been destroyed in eradication programs. I don't think I've seen a crow where I live. – Graham Chiu Sep 29 '18 at 03:10