Dunteige Mallard Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 Hi All, I have had two of my mallard killed over the weekend, they both were not taken just killed with small puncture wounds and no plucking? anyone any ideas? They were left dead beside the pond and not taken away so this probably rules out the fox. See attcahed picture for wound which was similar on both ducks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 It looks like a pellet wound? Kids with an air rifle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon pete Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 (edited) have a look inside to see if any pellet or remains or a projectile in the duck ,poachers ? Edited August 19, 2012 by pigeon pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunteige Mallard Posted August 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 I will examine the insides but I would be sure it's not poachers as I am in a very quiet location plus the pond is well hidden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Poachers wouldn't leave them unless your down quite alot but some oiks with an air rifle might! Are the wound on the backs of both birds (hard to tell) are they flying ducks? Or clipped? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchie the white hunter Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 LOOKS TO ME AS IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN A RED KITE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon pete Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 i was thinking ,would a heron do this ,i remember on an old farm the farmer asked if ive seen anyone shooting his carp in his lake or using a bow ,i said it was a heron killing the fish and it was to big to eat ,would it be leaches? maybe the heron was fighting because it had young about ?? sorry dont know just a guess or you have a CHUPACABRA lol ,please keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karpman Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 i was thinking ,would a heron do this ,i remember on an old farm the farmer asked if ive seen anyone shooting his carp in his lake or using a bow ,i said it was a heron killing the fish and it was to big to eat ,would it be leaches? maybe the heron was fighting because it had young about ?? sorry dont know just a guess or you have a CHUPACABRA lol ,please keep us posted Heron might not be a bad shout, seen one eat a little grebe once and a bloke photographed it. Ever known them to attack full grown ducks but they will readily take young. Karpman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 stoat or even mink? failing that fox [perhaps disturbed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 (edited) stoat or even mink? failing that fox [perhaps disturbed] Wouldn't have thought it was a stoat. Stoats bite to the back of the neck. Not sure if it is kids with an air rifle either. There's some hair missing from around the wound. Don't think an air rifle would do that. Don't have a clue myself but just throwing a suggestion out there. Could it have been a feral cat? What wound would that leave? Edited August 20, 2012 by Reece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 LOOKS TO ME AS IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN A RED KITE Yeah but you've got a huge downer on Red Kites, ain'tcha. :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunteige Mallard Posted August 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Funny you should say a Herron there is a few around as I see the quite often in pairs, wound they attack a 15 week old duck?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeperchris Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Its not one a fox has killed (skin and check the neck) and a buzzard has started to eat is it? Looks to have been plucked slightly to me? I had a pheasant killed in a very similar way, I skinned then neck after seeing the puncture wound and found trauma around the neck where charlie had taken it first. Just a suggestion from my experience. I dont think it would be a heron at 15 weeks old, I have had them take 6 week old ducks before but never that age. Hope it helps. Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchie the white hunter Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Yeah but you've got a huge downer on Red Kites, ain'tcha. :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2244tone Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Funny you should say a Herron there is a few around as I see the quite often in pairs, wound they attack a 15 week old duck?? A mate of mine claimes to have seen a heron swollow a canada goose chick, 2 crows were mobing it and before it was ready to feast on a heron flew in and took it off um.Not sure how old it was thou and it certainly didn,t get any older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Hi All, I have had two of my mallard killed over the weekend, they both were not taken just killed with small puncture wounds and no plucking? anyone any ideas? They were left dead beside the pond and not taken away so this probably rules out the fox. See attcahed picture for wound which was similar on both ducks. is that pic as it was found or have you plucked it off a little to show us the damage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toogood*10 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Any sight of a pellet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 is that pic as it was found or have you plucked it off a little to show us the damage I assumed the wound had been exposed by the photographer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taffyshooter Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 A mate of mine claimes to have seen a heron swollow a canada goose chick, 2 crows were mobing it and before it was ready to feast on a heron flew in and took it off um.Not sure how old it was thou and it certainly didn,t get any older. A heron will take chicks allright if given the oppertunity, but unless an adult mallard is injured or sick I doubt a heron would represent much of a threat. The wound on the bird in the pic does look like it was made by a pellet. Though I have seen farmyard ducks with similiar injuries after a mink attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 A mate of mine claimes to have seen a heron swollow a canada goose chick, 2 crows were mobing it and before it was ready to feast on a heron flew in and took it off um.Not sure how old it was thou and it certainly didn,t get any older. i can believe it. heron regularly swallow whole rats. big ones too. as said though i doubt a heron would attack a duck this size. it remains a mystery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunteige Mallard Posted August 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 I exposed the wound for the picture, there was no feather removed at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeperchris Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Fair enough if you plucked it then you can rule out what I have suggested. Does seem more like an avian puncture wound more than a mammal though. When do u start shooting your ducks mate? Mine kick off on the 15th. Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toogood*10 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 did you check for a pellet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunteige Mallard Posted August 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) Fair enough if you plucked it then you can rule out what I have suggested. Does seem more like an avian puncture wound more than a mammal though. When do u start shooting your ducks mate? Mine kick off on the 15th. Cheers Chris Mine start on the 15th also, just starting off with a 50 bird shoot! What are you starting with? Kevin Edited August 21, 2012 by Dunteige Mallard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon pete Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 i can believe it. heron regularly swallow whole rats. big ones too. as said though i doubt a heron would attack a duck this size. it remains a mystery but they have attacked 6lb carp and killed them but not eaten them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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