Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Critter ???

I have a small pond here in Ohio about 1/8 acre in size. Recently I have noticed catail stalks and roots floating around the surface and the stalks appear to be clipped off at the bottom. Do I have a little unknown critter? I have noticed no signs of a Muskrat or turtle and I do not want either in my little pond. Could wreak havoc in this small environment. Any thoughts anyone??

I have had the same problem and it turned out to be a couple of Nutria's.

hmmm. I may just have to take care of a little evening time spot light business.

More than likely a muskrat that you haven't seen. I've had some that don't become active until after dark. Know "nutria" that I know of in Ohio.

When I get Muskrats I usually find the cat tails cut into 3-4" sections and lots of them. I have never seen them cut them off at the bottom and then leave them whole.

I have a beaver in my pond that cuts the catails and leaves them floating.

Don't assume you have only one beaver. That's what we thought till we killed him, and then another, and then a third.

i have had several muscrats that do indeed cut the cattails off at the bottom and leave the rest of the stalk long and floating on the surface. they only eat the base of the stalks and some of the root.

Hmm, I may need to get some muskrats. I am tired of pulling up those cattails.

Well it appears to be a young snapping turtle. After two weeks of watching I seen the little bugger last night. No signs of any rats or beaver.

It is a snapper about the size of a football. I have since killed off and removed the catails for other reasons. The darn turtle is now eating my wifes contained water lillies. Does anyone have suggestions on how to LIVE trap this guy. I have no desire to harm him, it is just time for him to move on. I want to trap him and take the critter to the local river where he belongs. Suggestions anyone??

Cajun's will jump of in there barefooted and feel around the bottom for him with their toes. then have him for dinner. I used a 12ga.

Jim,
I respect that view point, a 12 guage would work just fine, however, my wife would never stand for that and I am NOT going to argue the point. Just aint worth the aggrevation. been there....done that..and it has cost me ! The local river is a good place for him/her to live out its life. much easier that way.

My wife aint much on shooting critters either. Except for snakes and snappers. The snakes I'll just move. Trapping was the first suggestion I got from my Ag agent. But I'm not touching those nasty snappers.

c'mon guys...don't your ladies ever go out shopping!! just put the gun away and hide the critters before she gets home!!!

Get this.. just two weeks ago I attempted to get a Ground Hog that got under my pole barn slab. I aint gonna have that so I proceeded to get out my new 17 caliber and figured it was a good time to give it a try other than beer cans. So she asked " whatta you doing ? " Oh man...she proceeded to stick that thing up my ...! Here is a lady that has the wild Rabbits around our place eating Apples right out of her hand. this is no bull and I aint ever seen anything like that in my 43 years! Anyway, I had to go buy a $40.00 live trap, catch the darn thing and take it to a old burned out farmstead several miles away.
This is what I am dealing with and all I want to do is catch this Turtle and remove it to the river. Advise anyone on how to live trap this thing. HELP!

"

Jab,

The subject of removing snapping turtles has come up in the past. Do a search using turtles or snapping turtles and you should get some results.

One method you might consider involves your wife. If she can get rabbits to eat from her hand, perhaps she can do the same with the turtles. All you'll have to do is stand by and catch them. Then again she may just change her mind giving you the go head to use the gun....

Good luck

Russ

Jab,

Just wanted to add this. If you are successful in removing the turtle, don't be disappointed if others appear. You'd be surprised where you'll find snapping turtles. The stream that runs by one of my outbuildings is only 3-4' wide and 3' deep. Had two snappers, about 10-12" in diameter, in there this summer.

Russ

Russ,

GOOD POINT.. I will get out some hamburg this evening and make her the offer!! As a matter of fact the snapper is getting a little brave, he is becoming bold when I pellet feed the Gills. He is coming right up and taking his share. Maybe she can start feeding him and we will see if she has a change of heart?

Thanks everyone for your advise and comments. I did a search and found the info I need. Now it is just a matter of do I want to evict it or let it be? Winter will be upon us soon here in Ohio and I may just let it hibernate in peace over the winter. The only harm so far is the pruning of our lilies? Maybe thats a good thing?

on page 46 of the july/august pondboss mag there are instruction on how to make a turtle trap. Or you can go to the google search engine and type in turtle traps and find a lot of them for sale. Probably be cheaper to make your own. On a fishing forum I frequent, I've come across a few posts on different plans for homemade traps,(live traps) If I can find those plans I'll post them

Beaver, did anyone mention beaver problems. We went 4 years with no evidence of the little boogers and then one day I noticed that 10-20 of the cypress trees I have planted were gone-vanished. I started snooping around and sure enough, we had beavers. Shot 2 ( I hated doing it but it did something to my soul to have my cypress trees eaten up-It was a cub scout project) and thought we got them all. Shot 3 more this spring and summer and it is apparent there are still some there.
Any sugeestions on how to protect the remaining trees (plan on planting more) or get rid of the pesty boogers?

Thanks much.

Mark Jenkins