Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Somethings eating my plants!

After several failed attempts to grow plants (arrowhead) in the pond i finally think i realized the problem. Something is eating them?? last weekend we put one in a pot and set it down just on the banks edge. The next morning the plant had been clean cut at the base of the stem.

Question, what do you think is eating them? Crawfish? Turtles?

2nd question, best way to prevent this?

For now, we have put another plant in the pond with a mesh cage around it (prevent anything from eating) to determine if it grows or not. Thoughts??

Can you post photos? Sounds like muskrats if targeting your arrowhead.

I envision a pot 6 inches or so tall sitting by the bank. That should eliminate most turtles and crawdads. That leaves mammals like beaver, muskrats and such. Do you have a game camera? That will tell the tale and then you can plan how to relocate the varmint.

Cav,
Might be a combination of critters, from deer to beavers......

Don't think we get muskrats down here tho....

I've had similar issues with Duck Potato. Looks like something cut their leaves with a razor, really bizarre. Only happens above water, perhaps deer (we've got tons of them).

Could be crawfish in your case. One reason I decided not to add more of the mudbugs just before planting pond weeds.

Cav, You can have some sprigs of my sawgrass!!!! You know... You've seen the pictures. Ha!!

Thanks for the quick, detailed responses!

Additional facts, our pond is 2 acres clear cut surroundings with no signs of beavers, muskrats so Im hesitant to think its one of those. I do have lots and lots of deer so i assume it could be one of them while getting a drink. I do have a game camera and might need to set on up to see.

I grow the arrowhead (duck potatoes ) from bulbs to mature plants, in a small swimming pool next to our house. These have been in the pool untouched and grow just fine. Then, for whatever reason when we put them in the pond they disappear and get eaten. Unfortunately, i do not have any pictures to share at this time..

I use branches from honey locust around newly planted emergent plants. The thorns keep everything away and they rot and disappear in a couple years. Once established, most plants can take some herbivore damage. Not sure if you have any honey locust in your area, but other branches with large thorns should work. Just be careful!

Most likely turtles snipping them off under water. I like the honey locust idea. We've used chicken wire around the plants to keep critters away, too. That works, but you'll want to remove the chicken wire at some point.

I am betting on snails. Muskrat would dig up the bulbs and eat them as well. Snails are well known for eating plants off just above the ground level.

Cheers Don.