Just came back from a week's family visit to Scotland to find that every
single fish in our main pond (and there were loads) have all been
polished off by otters! I had heard that they were in the area and a
neighbour has reported seeing a family of 3 - possibly 4 - in their
garden. I don't know whether to be pleased or peeved. I suspect the
former!

They also wrecked the edges knocking stones in and generally messing the
pond well and truly up!

Ho Hum! Must try to get things sorted out before charity garden opening
time in June.
--
Gopher .... I know my place!

"Gopher" wrote...

Just came back from a week's family visit to Scotland to find that every
single fish in our main pond (and there were loads) have all been
polished off by otters! I had heard that they were in the area and a
neighbour has reported seeing a family of 3 - possibly 4 - in their
garden. I don't know whether to be pleased or peeved. I suspect the
former!

They also wrecked the edges knocking stones in and generally messing the
pond well and truly up!

Ho Hum! Must try to get things sorted out before charity garden opening
time in June.
.................................

That's a first! Congratulations. :-)

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

On Apr 3, 11:14*pm, Gopher wrote:
Just came back from a week's family visit to Scotland to find that every
single fish in our main pond (and there were loads) have all been
polished off by otters! I had heard that they were in the area and a
neighbour has reported seeing a family of 3 - possibly 4 - in their
garden. I don't know whether to be pleased or peeved. I suspect the
former!

They also wrecked the edges knocking stones in and generally messing the
pond well and truly up!

Ho Hum! Must try to get things sorted out before charity garden opening
time in June.
--
Gopher .... I know my place!

Well at least they can be fenced out unlike herons.

On Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:14:06 +0200, Gopher wrote:

Just came back from a week's family visit to Scotland to find that every
single fish in our main pond (and there were loads) have all been
polished off by otters! I had heard that they were in the area and a
neighbour has reported seeing a family of 3 - possibly 4 - in their
garden. I don't know whether to be pleased or peeved. I suspect the
former!

They also wrecked the edges knocking stones in and generally messing the
pond well and truly up!

Ho Hum! Must try to get things sorted out before charity garden opening
time in June.


Wow! I know that I would be very, very pleased and would undoubtedly buy
some (cheap as possible) replacement fish to encourage them to return but
I am a relatively committed wildlife gardener and not a keeper of exotic
species of fish.

--
rbel

In message op.vtewp1dljpmw0i@r-pc, rbel writes
On Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:14:06 +0200, Gopher wrote:

Just came back from a week's family visit to Scotland to find that
every single fish in our main pond (and there were loads) have all
been polished off by otters! I had heard that they were in the area
and a neighbour has reported seeing a family of 3 - possibly 4 - in
their garden. I don't know whether to be pleased or peeved. I
suspect the former!

They also wrecked the edges knocking stones in and generally messing
the pond well and truly up!

Ho Hum! Must try to get things sorted out before charity garden
opening time in June.


Wow! I know that I would be very, very pleased and would undoubtedly
buy some (cheap as possible) replacement fish to encourage them to
return but I am a relatively committed wildlife gardener and not a
keeper of exotic species of fish.

They were basically common goldfish in a variety of hues - many were
black as well as the more normal gold/mixed colours. What surprised me
is that there is no sign of a single fish although admittedly the black
ones are difficult to see when they're more than a couple of inches
below the surface. We have had regular visits from the heron - can
usually tell by the oil slick on the surface when he/she has been. Also
we used to get kingfishers regularly but no sign so far this year. Not
surprising really! Also many of the oxygenating weed appears to have
been ripped up and other water plants messed about. At least we're not
in the position of a friend at the other end of our N. Dorset village
who had all 29 of his large koi carp removed by otters during the period
of snow and frost.

I will replace the fish but it will be some time before they reach the
numbers that were there a couple of weeks ago. They had lived and bred
there for over 9 years.

I don't want to fence the place too much as it's adjacent to farmland on
three sides. Post and rail fences are in place to keep stock out
(although we've had the odd intruder) but I really prefer to avoid
turning the place into a fortress. Why don't they try our large wildlife
pond at the end of the garden.... but then there's no fish in it that I
know of.


--
Gopher .... I know my place!

On Apr 4, 5:55*pm, Gopher wrote:
In message op.vtewp1dljpmw0i@r-pc, rbel writes



On Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:14:06 +0200, Gopher wrote:

Just came back from a week's family visit to Scotland to find that
every * single fish in our main pond (and there were loads) have all
been * polished off by otters! I had heard that they were in the area
and a * neighbour has reported seeing a family of 3 - possibly 4 - in
their * garden. I don't know whether to be pleased or peeved. I
suspect the * former!

They also wrecked the edges knocking stones in and generally messing
the * pond well and truly up!

Ho Hum! Must try to get things sorted out before charity garden
opening * time in June.

Wow! I know that I would be very, very pleased and would undoubtedly
buy *some (cheap as possible) replacement fish to encourage them to
return but *I am a relatively committed wildlife gardener and not a
keeper of exotic *species of fish.

They were basically common goldfish in a variety of hues - many were
black as well as the more normal gold/mixed colours. What surprised me
is that there is no sign of a single fish although admittedly the black
ones are difficult to see when they're more than a couple of inches
below the surface. We have had regular visits from the heron - can
usually tell by the oil slick on the surface when he/she has been. Also
we used to get kingfishers regularly but no sign so far this year. Not
surprising really! Also many of the oxygenating weed appears to have
been ripped up and other water plants messed about. At least we're not
in the position of a friend at the other end of our N. Dorset village
who had all 29 of his large koi carp removed by otters during the period
of snow and frost.

I will replace the fish but it will be some time before they reach the
numbers that were there a couple of weeks ago. They had lived and bred
there for over 9 years.

I don't want to fence the place too much as it's adjacent to farmland on
three sides. Post and rail fences are in place to keep stock out
(although we've had the odd intruder) but I really prefer to avoid
turning the place into a fortress. Why don't they try our large wildlife
pond at the end of the garden.... but then there's no fish in it that I
know of.

--
Gopher .... I know my place!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I think you've got an otter feeding station - enjoy it ;-))

Rod

On 04/04/2011 18:38, Rod wrote:
On Apr 4, 5:55 pm, wrote:
In messageop.vtewp1dljpmw0i@r-pc, writes



On Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:14:06 +0200, wrote:

Just came back from a week's family visit to Scotland to find that
every single fish in our main pond (and there were loads) have all
been polished off by otters! I had heard that they were in the area
and a neighbour has reported seeing a family of 3 - possibly 4 - in
their garden. I don't know whether to be pleased or peeved. I
suspect the former!

They also wrecked the edges knocking stones in and generally messing
the pond well and truly up!

Ho Hum! Must try to get things sorted out before charity garden
opening time in June.

Wow! I know that I would be very, very pleased and would undoubtedly
buy some (cheap as possible) replacement fish to encourage them to
return but I am a relatively committed wildlife gardener and not a
keeper of exotic species of fish.

They were basically common goldfish in a variety of hues - many were
black as well as the more normal gold/mixed colours. What surprised me
is that there is no sign of a single fish although admittedly the black
ones are difficult to see when they're more than a couple of inches
below the surface. We have had regular visits from the heron - can
usually tell by the oil slick on the surface when he/she has been. Also
we used to get kingfishers regularly but no sign so far this year. Not
surprising really! Also many of the oxygenating weed appears to have
been ripped up and other water plants messed about. At least we're not
in the position of a friend at the other end of our N. Dorset village
who had all 29 of his large koi carp removed by otters during the period
of snow and frost.

I will replace the fish but it will be some time before they reach the
numbers that were there a couple of weeks ago. They had lived and bred
there for over 9 years.

I don't want to fence the place too much as it's adjacent to farmland on
three sides. Post and rail fences are in place to keep stock out
(although we've had the odd intruder) but I really prefer to avoid
turning the place into a fortress. Why don't they try our large wildlife
pond at the end of the garden.... but then there's no fish in it that I
know of.

--
Gopher .... I know my place!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I think you've got an otter feeding station - enjoy it ;-))

Rod

Absolutely! what a wonderful thing to have otters in the garden. I think
I would be more than happy to share. Shame about the fish, I know how I
felt when the heron took all mine one year, after which I netted the
pond. I now have a really large flourishing pond community, but would
gladly remove the nets if I thought I could encourage otters. Not sure I
would keep replacing the fish, that could become expensive. What else do
they eat?

Bobbie

In message , Bobbie
writes
On 04/04/2011 18:38, Rod wrote:

I will replace the fish but it will be some time before they reach the
numbers that were there a couple of weeks ago. They had lived and bred
there for over 9 years.

I don't want to fence the place too much as it's adjacent to farmland on
three sides. Post and rail fences are in place to keep stock out
(although we've had the odd intruder) but I really prefer to avoid
turning the place into a fortress. Why don't they try our large wildlife
pond at the end of the garden.... but then there's no fish in it that I
know of.

--
Gopher .... I know my place!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I think you've got an otter feeding station - enjoy it ;-))

Rod

Absolutely! what a wonderful thing to have otters in the garden. I
think I would be more than happy to share. Shame about the fish, I know
how I felt when the heron took all mine one year, after which I netted
the pond. I now have a really large flourishing pond community, but
would gladly remove the nets if I thought I could encourage otters. Not
sure I would keep replacing the fish, that could become expensive. What
else do they eat?

Bobbie

The thing is that as otters (at least around here) seem to be mainly
nocturnal I haven't actually seen this band of bandits yet :-))
--
Gopher .... I know my place!

In message
, Rod
writes
On Apr 4, 5:55*pm, Gopher wrote:
In message op.vtewp1dljpmw0i@r-pc, rbel writes



On Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:14:06 +0200, Gopher wrote:

Just came back from a week's family visit to Scotland to find that
every * single fish in our main pond (and there were loads) have all
been * polished off by otters! I had heard that they were in the area
and a * neighbour has reported seeing a family of 3 - possibly 4 - in
their * garden. I don't know whether to be pleased or peeved. I
suspect the * former!

They also wrecked the edges knocking stones in and generally messing
the * pond well and truly up!

Ho Hum! Must try to get things sorted out before charity garden
opening * time in June.

Wow! I know that I would be very, very pleased and would undoubtedly
buy *some (cheap as possible) replacement fish to encourage them to
return but *I am a relatively committed wildlife gardener and not a
keeper of exotic *species of fish.

They were basically common goldfish in a variety of hues - many were
black as well as the more normal gold/mixed colours. What surprised me
is that there is no sign of a single fish although admittedly the black
ones are difficult to see when they're more than a couple of inches
below the surface. We have had regular visits from the heron - can
usually tell by the oil slick on the surface when he/she has been. Also
we used to get kingfishers regularly but no sign so far this year. Not
surprising really! Also many of the oxygenating weed appears to have
been ripped up and other water plants messed about. At least we're not
in the position of a friend at the other end of our N. Dorset village
who had all 29 of his large koi carp removed by otters during the period
of snow and frost.

I will replace the fish but it will be some time before they reach the
numbers that were there a couple of weeks ago. They had lived and bred
there for over 9 years.

I don't want to fence the place too much as it's adjacent to farmland on
three sides. Post and rail fences are in place to keep stock out
(although we've had the odd intruder) but I really prefer to avoid
turning the place into a fortress. Why don't they try our large wildlife
pond at the end of the garden.... but then there's no fish in it that I
know of.

--
Gopher .... I know my place!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I think you've got an otter feeding station - enjoy it ;-))

Rod

Hurrah! Just spotted 3 small and very nervous goldfish braving the
surface water in the glorious April sunshine. Two gold, one black. I
thought it would have be difficult for any predator to hoover up every
fish in that pond --- there were hundreds. Probably more hiding among
plants, rocks etc. But this trio were hugely cautious. The masses of
tadpoles are getting an easy time this year!
--
Gopher .... I know my place!