We've got groundhogs in my area. I also have deer. Yesterday I saw a deer in the field next to my house. I also have rabbits.

What animal would've attacked my basil plants ?

 No idea,. never had anything eat my basil. That is something else that I need to get done, make pesto. Need to pick up some garlic this weekend. Babs

I was going to make pesto this year. I cried when I saw how my poor basil plants had been attacked !

 They should keep growning. They will think that you trimmed them. Babs

 I find our basil recovers very quickly (as long as some it left). I have to cut it back every two weeks to keep in from flowering and dieing off. Looks like the deer were just "helping" you out. :)

Hope it worked out. Gophers are the big problem here.

Deer.  They like to eat the green leaves off the green bean too.