Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management What eats fish heads..?

So i go out to walk the pond today and discover a couple of floaters. These are hand sized fish. Not sure what the culprit is so I thought I would ask the experts.
I am in rural SW Tennessee. Got all the usual suspects. My first thought was turtle and I've always got a dozen of those on the bank in the sun. They are Red-ears and I haven't had this kill problem with them in the past. Maybe a snapper has wandered in?
Thoughts?

turtles

eagles

crayfish

otters

zomby fish

Looks alot like turtle to me. However the turtle feeding could have occured after fish was DOA.

If it was me I'd be keeping a eye out for a snapper

I am betting either snapper as Robert says or more than likely it is as Tums says...

I get the occasional Grey Heron and have read on here how their eyes are a lot bigger than their throats... they could have very well been DOA pre-consumption. The Heron was visiting in the early am over the last couple days.

Jeff-

I would agree with TUMS.

Only the heads are missing...hmmm...it appears they are after the brains...alien bluegill mutilations perhaps??

I was leaning more toward a Chef that was in lack of Fish Heads and forgot his knife, so the fingernail clipper in their pocket at the time with the swing out gizmo was only option available

How many fish were found like this?

Just the two, on opposite sides of the pond.

I walk around my pond every couple days so these are recent. The pond is 5 years old and have not seen anything like this before. The water line is down about 6 inches so it is easy to see in the soft mud if anything was working the shore line (raccoons, etc.).

Jeff-

I wonder why I cant see the pictures????

otter - they often kill with a head bite - eat a few bites - chew off the tail to immobilize the fish and leave it. Repeat over and over until you ask it to leave. They can unbalance a small lake or pond. I watched one do that exact thing 4 times in 15 mins. - then he left. Look for scales or fish on the bank.

ewest, that was my thought too. Fish scales in poop also indicates an otter might be around.

No more casualties since the initial kill. I'm doubting it was otter 'cause they would have kept at it. Probably my initial guess was right, heron snapped them up and couldn't swallow, turtles ate on them post mortem.


Jeff-

Jeff, you're probably right.

Keep your eyes open. Otters wander and may stay for an hour or days depending.

I definitely wouldn't rule out river otters. Here in south central Oklahoma, I have seen them kill fish, eat a few bites and go kill another fish! No lie. It's like they are four legged serial killers. They just do it for fun! They can be nocturnal too. They are excellent swimmers and can stay down under water for quite a long time. I never realized they could be such a problem until I saw them first hand. Respond well to lead poisoning, but hard to see/find!

Eddie

I know