Mysterious predator eats fish heads

[bigboard]

Yesterday, we had 20 or so happy goldfish. Today, 3 are missing and 5 were on
the bottom of the pond, with NO HEADS. anyone know what kind of predator
problem we might have? and what we can do about it?
Gill Hall (still slightly traumatised!)

Probably mink.

[Charlie Pridham]

Post by bigboard

Yesterday, we had 20 or so happy goldfish. Today, 3 are missing and 5 were on
the bottom of the pond, with NO HEADS. anyone know what kind of
predator problem we might have? and what we can do about it?
Gill Hall (still slightly traumatised!)

Probably mink.

Sorry, forgot about the solution! Probably the best way is to trap it
with a cage type trap, but with mink I would say just kill it anyway you
can. Shoot it, hit it with spade, blow it up.... ;)

Could also be Otter they only eat heads and occassionally tails always
leaving the middle, contact your local wildlife group who will be able to
give advice etc. (more of a problem now than herons in these parts!)

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

[Vincent Smith]

Post by Charlie Pridham

Post by bigboard

Yesterday, we had 20 or so happy goldfish. Today, 3 are missing and 5 were on
the bottom of the pond, with NO HEADS. anyone know what kind of
predator problem we might have? and what we can do about it?
Gill Hall (still slightly traumatised!)

Probably mink.

Sorry, forgot about the solution! Probably the best way is to trap it
with a cage type trap, but with mink I would say just kill it anyway you
can. Shoot it, hit it with spade, blow it up.... ;)

Could also be Otter they only eat heads and occassionally tails always
leaving the middle, contact your local wildlife group who will be able to
give advice etc. (more of a problem now than herons in these parts!)

Hi,

I hope you mean that you mean otters are more of a problem than
herons.
On first reading it looked like the local WT was the problem!!
Please remember that it is illegal to cause 'unecessary' suffering to
any wild animal - including mink. So take advice before you deal with
the problem. Netting over the pond is the best deterrent agains fish
eating birds/mammals,
Cheers,
Vince.