Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,900
Posts557,086
Members18,452
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,414
ewest 21,474
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,110
Who's Online Now
12 members (Freg, dg84s, IND1371, Sunil, Augie, Fishingadventure, Groundhog7, Brandon Larson, Dave Davidson1, PRCS, Theo Gallus, BillyE), 793 guests, and 301 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#265223 07/19/11 03:30 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 733
F
fishm_n Offline OP
OP Offline
F
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 733
Have some bass ponds, went out the other day and saw 12 or more box turtles, what effect do they have on my pond. WOuld it be worth my time thinning them out.

Same with the rats but not as many.

Right now the bass are healthy and plentiful, the NP are there too but the smaller ones are a little skinny.

Thanks


Water is the basis of all life, by design!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 281
R
RAH Offline
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
R
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 281
Box turtles are terrestrial and have no negative effect on your pond. They are also on the decline in many parts of the country. It would be very irresponsible to kill any.

RAH #265226 07/19/11 04:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,414
Likes: 792
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,414
Likes: 792
Agree with RAH on the box turtles having no effect on the pond.

If you're talking about muskrats, and your pond was created by building a dam, then they can compramise the integrety of the dam by tunneling into it. I have no tolerance for muskrats or beavers in a pond.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
esshup #265230 07/19/11 06:01 PM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 529
S
Fingerling
Offline
Fingerling
S
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 529
Are the rats 2 legged or 4? That would change the caliber of the tool.

Last edited by Sniper; 07/19/11 06:01 PM.
Sniper #265235 07/19/11 07:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712
Likes: 3
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712
Likes: 3
Maybe our good friend Dr. Dave Willis from SDSU will check in and see this.

Somehow, I don't think that South Dakota box turtles would have much effect on a pond. I'm also wondering if they are truly box turtles. Usually, they aren't much into living in watery homes. Can you post a picture?

In any event, I would not try to eliminate them. Most turtles don't eat a lot of fish, and they eat a heck of a lot of undesirable critters.

Here is a great booklet about South Dakota turtles: A field guide to South Dakota turtles.

I too have to ask -- what kind of rats?

Good luck,
Ken


Subscribe to Pond Boss Magazine

Peculiar Friends are Better than No Friends at All!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
C
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
C
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
The only turtle I can think of that seems to be half and half water and land turtle is a wood turtle, but they don't live in South Dakota. I know box turtles like to hang out around wet areas, but they aren't going to actually being wandering around in water much over their head for long...

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 733
F
fishm_n Offline OP
OP Offline
F
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 733
I will try and get pictures.

They are muskrats, and must think that they have a new summer home.
Time to charge rent!! hehe.


Water is the basis of all life, by design!
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 475
J
Offline
J
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 475
Muskrats? They make new ones every day! I recently dealt with a Beaver problem, and got rid of some rats along the way. Arrowhead, and bulrush is making a big comeback! When I was a kid, I remember getting mad at my dad for shooting muskrats in the summer. The pelts were worth $6.50 in 1980.... alot of easy money with a few 110 conibears!And anyone who had a pond would let you trap 'em too!

Wow 1980, I sound like an old timer...............


Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer.

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Bob Lusk, GaryK, GrizzFan, PhotographerDave
Recent Posts
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/28/24 02:50 PM
Working on a .5acre disaster, I mean pond.
by PRCS - 03/28/24 02:50 PM
1 year after stocking question
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/28/24 02:44 PM
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by Sunil - 03/28/24 12:39 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by esshup - 03/28/24 10:39 AM
Brooder Shiners and Fry, What to do??
by Freg - 03/28/24 09:42 AM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by esshup - 03/28/24 08:36 AM
Dewatering bags seeded to form berms?
by Justin W - 03/28/24 08:19 AM
Reducing fish biomass
by FishinRod - 03/28/24 08:18 AM
Questions and Feedback on SMB
by Donatello - 03/27/24 03:10 PM
2024 North Texas Optimal BG food Group Buy
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/27/24 08:15 AM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5