What is eating my frogs?

[ashirley]

Recently, I found a frog in the pond with one leg missing. Today I found another one in the skimmer with both of its right legs missing. These are pretty good sized frogs 4". Could my koi be eating them or is it something more sinister ?

 

[Tula]

Hmmmm, I honestly don't know. How large are your koi? Do you have turtles, snakes? A mystery to be sure!

 

[ashirley]

No turtles or snakes that I have seen. Largest koi is probably 12 inches.

 

[addy1]

I watch the hawks take them, they take the whole frog not just a piece of it.

 

[j.w]

Sissy here has koi that will eat frogs I believe. Really sounds tho like something w/ sharper teeth or maybe the frogs getting caught in something. Kind of weird that the right side legs are both gone from the one frog. How could a fish bite two legs at once,guess it could have came back for the other one............well maybe but I'm scratching my head on this one. Maybe they are deformed frogs?

 

[ashirley]

There are obvious injuries so they aren't deformed. I thought maybe the cat but I have never seen them around the pond. One of the cats is handicapped so she couldn't move fast enough to catch a frog.

 

[j.w]

You will never know unless you stake out the pond all night and day or get a camera set up that watches and records what visits there.

 

[Big Lou]

My bet is on a snapping turtle. Jaws like "JAWS" and masters at hiding.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

seems like they're getting caught on something but a predator is possible.

 

[adavisus]

Yup,
Sounds like a snapping turtle is stopping by for a snack periodically
Sneaky so and so's

Regards, andy
http://www.pinterest.com/adavisus/pondering/

 

[Tula]

Just checking in, was hoping you had an answer....but the mystery continues........

 

[ashirley]

Nope, no clue. I think if it was a snapping turtle, I would see it sometimes in the pond, I am out there alot. My big pond has straight sides and no easy access in or out. It may have fell in but I doubt it could get out. My husband thinks it may be raccoons. We have had a problem with them eating the horse feed in the past. We have a humane trap that we may set to see if we catch one.

 

[studiovette]

, no clue. I think if it was a snapping turtle, I would see it sometimes in the pond, I am out there alot. My big pond has straight sides and no easy access in or out. It may have fell in but I doubt it could get out. My husband thinks it may be raccoons. We have had a problem with them eating the horse feed in the past. We have a humane trap that we may set to see if we catch one.

Really? I have seen a couple in my yard this year and chase them away. They freak me out. I'm all fenced in so they are coming in from somewhere and I like to go out and chk on pond at night and don't want to bump into one.
Also Come to think of it I am missing 2 large Bull frogs. Haven't seen them in weeks. Who knows? I just never would have thought that. They don't seem like they would be fast enough but what do I know.