Herons. They got a couple of 3# trout out of a shallow creek last summer
(trout went up this creek for cooler water). Didn't eat a bite, just killed
them and dragged them up on land. I saw one today at my pond as I went
down to feed the fish. The fish were not nearly as active as usual, and I
can't find my duck!!
Randy - thanks for posting that. Kind of like UFOs, I thought maybe I was the only one who observed this.
Over the last couple of years, I've seen herons flying with trout they've stolen from my pond -- in their beaks. Twice, I've seen rather large trout fight their way out of the beaks, only to be dropped into forest around my pond. I retrieved one of them a year or two ago, which didn't look too bad. I kept it for dinner. Other than being covered with pine needles, it was pretty much intact. There was no immediately noticeable damage or scaring on the fish.
As for your duck -- my condolences. Raccoons got most of my last batch of ducks.
