I need HELP -Predator

[Joni Franciskovic]

Hi I need help figuring out how to protect my pond. I have an 1700 gallon pond 6 by 12 feet and 5 feet deep in one end . I got 11 koi and goldfish when my pond was installed 11 years ago and they were only 2 inch then. 8 years later , they were around 14 inch. Never had a problem with heron or raccoons. One day my husband said he say a strange but cute critter running around the backyard in early spring. The next day all my fish were gone. I was devastated. I found out a Peta group released all the minks at a local minks farml here in Ontario Canada. We live close to a river. My whole neighborhoods pond was also raided by minks. I was so heartbroken that I couldnt look at my pond for 3 years. Last year my husband bought 2 koi and put them in our pond. I didn't want to be heartbroken so I
Barely looked at them. They spawned and had babies last summer. They made it thru the winter and I was so happy. This year I restocked my pond and started getting attached to them. I am in love again. So I have been researching what I can do this winter to spring to protect them. I read article Water Wolves of Water Gardens – Mink
By Jamie Beyer,
to dye pond black with double the recommended dose so minks cannot see them in the water, which will minimize fish lose. People had been having great success with this method Article also recommended putting a hardware cloth barrier to block the whole on the ice where the deicer is to limit the minks access to entering the whole. It needs to be less then 1/2 of spacing so as minks can mold their body into a size if a hot dog to fit into spaces. But isnt the metal hardware cloth toxic to the fish. Any ideas what I can use to block the whole without suffocating the fish or introducing toxic metal to the fish. Sometimes we get mild days where the ice would melt. During summer the minks dont come around as there are lots of food source for them. Any other ideas what I can do. It is against the law to trap them here. My neighbor installed electric fence and minks still got the all last winter.I just dont want to go thru the devastation again. I just want to be ready for winter and gather all the equipment I need.

 

[Tula]

I'll follow this with interest. I've read they're relentless predators and nearly unstoppable I followed a story on another site, where the pond owner stalked one for quite awhile, before finally killing it with a gun......I assume it was legal in his European - Scandinavian country.

The story amazed me as the creature was so wily and would figure out every type of trap.

 

[Joni Franciskovic]

They are definitely Wolve on our Ponds

 

[Lisak1]

I have also heard that minks are nearly impossible to stop. We met one pond owner who watched the mink slip under the edge of the ice and drag her fish out one by one. Something that would keep the animal from even getting to the pond would be most effective, but I have zero ideas on what that might be.

I guess those PETA people didn't really consider the ripple effect that releasing those mink would have on other creatures. And those mink weren't wild animals - I'd be surprised if many survived.

 

[BarbO]

I know this might not be feasible to you, but just thought I would suggest it. How about building a type of greenhouse, with windows that open up high, over your whole pond? I saw one recently in a magazine that was made out of old windows and some of them had screens. I have seen some that are quite beautiful. It would also help your pond in the winter up in Canada.

 

[Joni Franciskovic]

I know this might not be feasible to you, but just thought I would suggest it. How about building a type of greenhouse, with windows that open up high, over your whole pond? I saw one recently in a magazine that was made out of old windows and some of them had screens. I have seen some that are quite beautiful. It would also help your pond in the winter up in Canada.

 

[Joni Franciskovic]

I cant get my husband to build anything for me. He tell me to just let nature take its course. I winterize my pond myself. I am planning to dye pond black in late fall. I am already having nightmares over losing fish from minks. I have also contacted a wildlife trapper but really expensive.

 

[JamieB]

Research repellents, deterants, maybe a dog? As they are of the weasel family, I would try a variety of things at the same time, and pick a breed of dog known for being good at hunting weasel, or with a strong prey drive and thick coat. We had one take all our ducks. It failed to get my goose, but it left bite marks on old George’s neck, he was one cranky gander. The other option I can think of would be to make a predator proof pond, raised sides, such as an above ground pool has, but no bottom, to go around the pond. A careful application of water to ice the seams, and you’d have to watch that ice is sturdy enough to put it up and remove it.

 

[poconojoe]

A trail camera viewing your pond can help to ID the culprit and maybe help to find out how they come into your yard. They work real well, even at night. Beautiful color during the day and clear black and white at night. A time and date stamp is there so you know when the incident occurred. I have one made by Moutrie. It does stills or videos and even records sound. It activates when it detects motion. Mine works off of D batteries which last a real long time. It captures onto an SD card, which I pull and plug directly into my computer.

Perhaps a sturdy net made of wire or cable completely covering the surface of the pond. All the edges would have to be fastened down with stakes. Also, every inch of the net edges would have to be held down with heavy rocks so they can't lift it and crawl under. The only way they would get through would be to tunnel under it. If you're worried about that, instead of just laying the net under the rocks, dig a trench and turn the net edges into the trench. Stake it in the trench and add the heavy stones on top.