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The thing about birds is that they don't chew their prey, they normally swallow it whole. Yeah, I know, there are a number of exceptions. ;\)

An old girlfriend re-habbed raptors, and even the tiny screech owls will eat a full grown house mouse whole. One Red-Tailed Hawk she had would eat a dozen at one feeding.

Anyway, maybe the tastier/easier to chew parts were the body of the crawfish and the predator thought the claws were more work to chew open that they were worth? Or it was a smaller predator (small mink or 'coon [YOY])and lacked the jaw strength to crack open the claws?

Last edited by esshup; 11/17/09 12:30 PM. Reason: fingers move quicker than the brain

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I grew up with 3 brothers so I know exactly how hard they can pinch, maybe the claws get left simply because they(whatever it is) are trying to avoid them while eating the crawfish?
I have a special place in my heart for raptors, try saying "full grown full grown house mouse whole" 5 times fast ;\)


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Look for scat with scales in it...most likely otter.


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Blackbirds (common grackles)eat crawfish. They wade out into the water, tiptoeing daintily to keep their feathers dry. They haul them out onto the bank and eat them, leaving the shells behind.

Bullfrogs and crawfish snakes eat them too, but don't leave any parts behind.

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Can't be Cajuns. They would have eaten the claws.


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 Originally Posted By: bobad
Blackbirds (common grackles)eat crawfish. They wade out into the water, tiptoeing daintily to keep their feathers dry. They haul them out onto the bank and eat them, leaving the shells behind.

Bullfrogs and crawfish snakes eat them too, but don't leave any parts behind.


OK, I'll bite. What is a crawfish snake?


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Barred owles are another choice. They feed on the large crayfish as they migerate in the wet grass in the late spring. I often find the pinchers left behind under a common owl perch in the yard. They set there often and are easy to watch as I have lots of lights around the pond at night

Last edited by Rob Cater; 11/19/09 06:39 PM.

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Welcome to Pond Boss, Rob Cater.


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 Originally Posted By: Rob Cater
Barred owles are another choice. They feed on the large crayfish as they migerate in the wet grass in the late spring. I often find the pinchers left behind under a common owl perch in the yard. They set there often and are easy to watch as I have lots of lights around the pond at night

That's interesting. I knew I had at least 1 owl on my property. It wasn't until last year that I was able to see him and figure out it was a barred owl. Maybe it was him.

I have to say this is 1 time I am hoping Lusk and the other experts are wrong and it's not an otter.

Oh yea, welcome to PB Rob Cater

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I saw an owl swoop down and crab crawfish from the pond last night. I had seen claws around but thought it might be cats or raccoons. But now I think its is an owl.

Last edited by BobbyRice; 02/18/16 01:44 PM.

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