I had a similar issue last year. I had to plant my corn 3 times. I'm not sure, but I think it was squirrels. I put up some dollar store windchimes, tied that silver stuff you use like tissue paper in gifts, it looks like fat tinsel onto bamboo stick, and I sprinkled cyan pepper all over the
garden bed. I don't know what did the trick, but I finally got my corn to grow. Good luck to you, don't give up.