It could be any of many possible candidates - today a deer, tomorrow a squirrel, then a bird. Not many things will bypass delicious plump strawberries. There isn't a 100% failsafe prevention - something will always find a way to get to them. Some strategies you can try is bird netting & diatomaceous earth, harvest early and often.

Not a problem we have in Scotland in December :-)))

It looks to me as if it is slugs or birds, as I have had this and so I cover mine from the birds but it is not possible to stop slugs unless you use slug pellets.

There are non-toxic slug pellets, Ben. They're made of iron phosphate, and flavored with yeast to encourage the slugs to eat them.

Thanks, all! I had no idea that slugs eat berries, but we have so many that I'm sure they are to blame. I have been using cups of beer and it has worked very well! I'll also try the pellets!

I noticed that all the berries in the photos have been eaten on top which suggested birds to me - wouldn't slugs tend to eat the underneath as being easier to get at from the ground? I would try netting them as well as the pellets, then you get them both ways.

Great point. I tried moving them off the ground but they are still getting eaten. Nets are next. Thanks all!

I hope you get to enjoy a few at least.

I wanted to follow up for all those that so generously helped! It was snails. Caught them red handed. They started eating them in the day, too. No shame! I also had little tiny black fly-type bugs eating them. Any idea of what that could be?

Fruit Fly, feeding on the dead/dying matter.

Red handed? Nah! Little red rings around their tiny mouths! :)