Gone - all gone

[wdfifteen]

My small pond was attacked by mink over the winter. This is only the second mink attack in 10 years - the first time they took the three biggest fish and left the rest. This time they completely wiped out the pond. Vile little bastages. All these colorful fishes have been reduced to mink poop.

[stevej37]

Fish...all you can eat!
Sorry to hear that.
I use a couple of these around the pond...raccoons are my problem. They seem to work.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C2HGZ4P/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[KFC911]

Well that sux...I'm a "live & let live" type when it comes to my fishys (farm ponds), but mess with them beyond reasonable meals, and it's GO TIME...

I'd name the mink "goner"

[livi]

Really, really sorry to see that happen. I have a pond myself with several fine Koi carp. I have fenced it in and so far no attacks. But that is probably more due to luck than the fence.

Beautiful clip. How big and deep is your pond?

[dad911]

I gave up on my koi. Blue Herons- smart buggers, wait a few years until the koi were big and my guard was down, then wipe them all out. Repeat every few years, until I gave up. No fun looking at a pond through a net.

[dafischer]

Originally Posted by KC911

I'd name the mink "goner"

Or, "coat"

[mreid]

This was our pond in PA. My daughter catalogued and named all 37 koi and the five largest catfish. When they started disappearing from Herons, raccoons, and other vermin, we got 6 of these to ring the pond. Worked really well, but required a lot of batteries. There may be a solar or hard wired option out there. Pro tip: if you get these, tell the wife how they work. Mine was the first vermin to be scared away from the pond.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Orbit-Yard-Enforcer-Motion-Activated-Pest-Deterrent-Sprinkler-62100/203907475?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CTHD%7Cgoogle%7C&mid=sybc7Vppc%7Cdt_mtid_890338a25189_pcrid_2526850 97443_pkw__pmt__product_203907475_slid_&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_v7ztoaD2wIVAgdpCh2a4QDIEAQYASAB EgLPQ_D_BwE&dclid=CJ7v7b2Gg9sCFRUwaQod09wERQ

[wdfifteen]

We have two of those sprayers on our pond in the summer. They don't work in the winter! We put a net over the pond when the leaves start to fall, it keeps the herons and leaves out of the pond for the winter. The house goes on the market Friday, so I won't have to worry about it any more. Still bummed that the mink slipped under the net and ate our fish.

[tevake]

Sounds like a nice mink neck wrap would be a good momento of the lost fish.
Sure was a nice colorful bunch you had.
Shame, might have been a selling point for the place. I'd imagine they added a lot to the pond.

Oh well that's almost behind you now, how is the new place coming together?
If I remember correctly, you had some inside projects happening.

Cheers Richard

[john70t]

Koi fish I've seen in Japan and Florida.
I love to watch them swim but they seem to be at the very bottom of the food chain...to put it lightly.
A species more suited to indoor tanks or protected ponds.

I've seen a few blue heron and wild river otter in the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huron_River_(Michigan) but not enough for me personally.
Never seen a mink in the wild yet.

[nota]

almost clear monofiliment [like fish line] nets work
to keep out birds and coons fox ect
and be less ugly

I have been lucky not to lose fish
except to the males beating up the girls at spawning
and hurricanes
but keep my swimming pool/fish pond low

[Cajundaddy]

Blue heron, coons, and night heron are a constant threat around here. They regularly clean out the goldies in the golf course pond nearby. Building in an overhanging ledge helps some, but determined predators will find a way.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

Blue heron, coons, and night heron are a constant threat around here. They regularly clean out the goldies in the golf course pond nearby. Building in an overhanging ledge helps some, but determined predators will find a way.

I leave the herons alone...they occasionally get a nice fish, but I have plenty, and they don't make a dent in the food chain....it's all about the balance of nature. But I am in my second year of turtle relocations....at least 40 by now....hey, I'm part of nature .

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by dad911

Blue Herons- smart buggers

Yes, Sir. My six year old step son and I watched one swallow (in horror for him) a big fish from our little pond. Six/seven inches.

Very efficient.

[KFC911]

My ponds are in full spawn mode....bazillions of tiny fry exploding up like a volcanic eruption...one of my small bass was gorging out like Tabby at a buffet...in his prime .

The big fish eat the little ones, the little ones got to be fast...that's the law of fish, you'd better move yer azz!

I've seen herons swoop in and take fish 10-12 inches long.... nature...I intervene as little as possible....within reason .

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Video

Great video, you will always have that.

I'm guessing no pond at the new house for a while.

[john70t]

Maybe sink some shelters and deep overhangs where the fry can hide from big bird?
Many open ponds don't have that.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by john70t

Maybe sink some shelters and deep overhangs where the fry can hide from big bird?
Many open ponds don't have that.

The big birds don't eat the fry...nosiree....the bass sure do though . I watched one a couple of days ago....edge of the pond, a 6" diameter dense column of hatching larvae just spewing up from the bottom....a small bass (less than 1lb), was just doing U-turns back and forth through the fry eruption....happy bass. I love healthy ponds...and when that small bass grows a bit more....it'll make a fine snack for a 10 pounder.....bass are by far my best fish predators....no contest .

[BeyGon]

a friend of mine has a pond and she said that when they made the edges vertical and deep the Raccoons couldn't/wouldn't get her fish. She had a shelter also to give the fish some hope/safety from the birds.

[vash]

I heard that overhangs surrounding the pond will stop mammals.

The fish dive under the overhang and the animal cannot reach down below. It’s the fish’s natural instinct to dive for cover.