cat amongst the pigeons Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 (edited) This morning around 7am all pheasants in the wood adjacent to the house were being disturbed by something and two huge carp from the pond had been eaten leaving only a few scales and a bit of flesh. Ive heard otters leave the bones is that true? im not to sure so thought i'd ask u lot 1st. got a live catch trap i can put out but not to keen on catching an otter or alternativly just sit and wait with the rifle i suppose? any advice would be appreciated. Edited January 27, 2009 by cat amongst the pigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishman307 Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 Could be a heron, I can tell you more if you like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 Sand traps and see what walks around mate, pick up some scraps of whats left and put it in the middle of a load of sand laid out about 1/2 inch deep (sq mtr area)? Small prints mink, large Otter, the first you can do something about the later - your in trouble! Mink in my opinion will be opperational late afternoon, early morning, bait a trap with a fish head and see what happens - make it big enough though because l've seen mink (male ones) up to almost two ft long, reminising now of the days out with the mink hounds! Otters on the other hand are brasen creatures and will make there presence known soon enough if they are about. Both will clear your pond as its capitive lunches are probably getting big! You should be able to follow and find where Otters are as they a big animals needing big holes to live in! Your not anywhere near a reserve? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjlfishing Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 otter mate they will murder everything small and big we had them on our pond killed carp to 26 pound the counry is alive with them now they are all over something needs to be done the only legal way of stopping them is electric fences but not the best way i say bring back the otter hounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewis Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 Sand trap's for me too, But out of curiosity was there a white slick of ink, like oil on top of the water ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 Find some scats. Break it open, give it a sniff, if it smells of musk and ****, it's an mink. If it smells of (at least, the slightest hint) of lavender it's an otter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Does anyone know the laws regarding mink traps and rafts? Defra or whoever it is has put one on my flight pond, (with the owners permission I should add) but they have put it right where I feed the pond. Can I move it? Do I need to tell them or will they just find it? They had left a printed letter stapled to the top of it but it has rained a bit since they left it and I can't read what it says. There are no footprints in the pad in it at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 It could be any animal, but I bet you're Catamong's kid Did you think the name up, or was it copied? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Find some scats. Break it open, give it a sniff, if it smells of musk and ****, it's an mink. If it smells of (at least, the slightest hint) of lavender it's an otter. Good advice as are sand traps for foot prints Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Good advice as are sand traps for foot prints Thank you, - it's just one of those old unknown bit of knowledge that was passed onto be by an old riverman, and proved to be true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cat amongst the pigeons Posted January 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Quote:"Break it open, give it a sniff, if it smells of musk and ****, it's an mink. If it smells of (at least, the slightest hint) of lavender it's an otter." found some and it does smell fruity/lavendery but i decided against picking it up i think its almost definatly an otter as neighbours have told me they had heard high pitched noises thinking it was a bird. Also you can see where its been slipping in and out of the water on various parts of the bank and a nice scattering of scales! now thing is how do i keep the little ******* away? dont really fancy loosing over £1000's of fish i was thinking maybe one of those high frequency deterrant things they use 2 keep cats away? or an electric fence like u say. any other thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 The best answer to your problem is.... Shaggy long hair scruffy looking dogs that are built like hounds look like hounds but like to swim and play in reeds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenntay Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 have a shine with a lamp at night on your pond easiest way to see otters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomtommckinnon Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 short of moving your fish somewhere else, an electric fence will be about all you can do mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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