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Cat Tails #48786 07/12/04 09:00 AM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 68 Kansas H Haus Member
Haus Member H Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 68 Kansas	Do deer eat what we call cat tail plants in the pond? Went out to the pond this morning and several hundred cat tail plants in the pond we�re chewed off 6-10� above the water line, this has never happened before.

Re: Cat Tails #48787 07/12/04 09:20 AM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 336 Kremlin, OK S Svoberts Lunker
Svoberts Lunker S Joined: May 2003 Posts: 336 Kremlin, OK	Could it possibly be from beavers? Shawn

Re: Cat Tails #48788 07/12/04 10:25 AM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 68 Kansas H Haus Member
Haus Member H Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 68 Kansas	Don't know...we have been in this place for 2 1/2 years and have never seen a beaver nor any signs of beavers. It appears to be something that can take one bite and leave a clean cut, the stalks were 4-6' tall and no signs of tracks.

Re: Cat Tails #48789 07/12/04 11:45 AM
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 72 Haughton, Louisiana T Torchy Member
Torchy Member T Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 72 Haughton, Louisiana	If you were in Louisiana I'd say Nutria...failing that...Muskrat ?...they have a pretty impressive set of choppers...they're also "vegans" and eat a lot of different vegatation...Muskrat would be my guess...

Re: Cat Tails #48790 07/12/04 05:19 PM
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,902 Surry Co NC R Ric Swaim Lunker
Ric Swaim Lunker R Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,902 Surry Co NC	6" to 10" above the water line? Not a beaver, not a muskrat, not a turtle. My guess would also be deer. They will eat young shoots from almost any vegitation. Pond Boss Subscriber & Books Owner If you can read this ... thank a teacher. Since it's in english ... thank our military! Ric

Re: Cat Tails #48791 07/12/04 07:20 PM
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,097 Likes: 18 East Texas pond E Eastland Lunker
Eastland Lunker E Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,097 Likes: 18 East Texas pond	Haus, help me out a little. Walk along the shore, next to the downed cattails...what kind of tracks do you see next to the waters edge ? A Deer will leave distinct "V" shaped tracks. Or, is the bank empty of tracks and the water disturbed ? You could have a LOT of things coming in for a meal...I would love to solve the mystery...more clues please .... $\:\)$

Re: Cat Tails #48792 07/12/04 09:27 PM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 59 Valparaiso, NE B Brad B. Lunker
Brad B. Lunker B Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 59 Valparaiso, NE	Haus, You've got beavers! I've seen them eat corn stalks like that up here along some of the creeks. They'll build their dens and dams out of cornstalks if there's no trees around. Those cattails are probably too course for a deer to eat- especially this time of year with all the food available. IMHO Brad B.

Re: Cat Tails #48793 07/13/04 07:16 AM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 68 Kansas H Haus Member
Haus Member H Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 68 Kansas	Day 2 Went out to the pond again�more cat tails are gone, if this keeps up in a few more days their wont be any left. We really like them, it�s the only thing at this time that adds some character to the pond. No signs of deer tracks or any other critters, took some photos of the damage�check-em out and see what you think. http://www.photodump.com/viewer/rangerdog/DCP_1956.html http://www.photodump.com/viewer/rangerdog/DCP_1962.html http://www.photodump.com/viewer/rangerdog/DCP_1964.html

Re: Cat Tails #48794 07/13/04 07:41 AM
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 72 Haughton, Louisiana T Torchy Member
Torchy Member T Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 72 Haughton, Louisiana	I was wrong !...muskrats apparently are not total vegans !...however here is a link for your reading pleasure... http://www.britishcolumbia.com/Wildlife/wildlife/landmammals/cw/cw_muskrat.html

Re: Cat Tails #48795 07/13/04 07:42 AM
Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 257 London, Ontario, Canada R Rowly Member
Rowly Member R Joined: Jul 2002 Posts: 257 London, Ontario, Canada	Haus...in Canada we are known for our fine Canadian beaver and large whitetail deer....my thoughts are this if you can't see tracks along the waters edge showing deer movement from their heavy weight then you are looking for another animal either a beaver or the muskrat. What type of watershed feeds your pond? I doubt beavers will wonder to far from cover and security? Good luck! Rowly

Re: Cat Tails #48796 07/13/04 07:46 AM
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 72 Haughton, Louisiana T Torchy Member
Torchy Member T Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 72 Haughton, Louisiana	Here's a possible way to figure out what it is...do you hunt ? if so, consider buying and setting up a Camtrakker (or similar type camera) pointing at some of your undisturbed cattails...if you don't hunt, most likely you've got a buddy that hunts and owns one of these cameras...I use them and they've taken some really interesting pic at the house..if you set it up, it shouldn't take long to see the culprit on film !...if you capture an image, please post...would be interesting...

Re: Cat Tails #48797 07/14/04 07:39 AM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 68 Kansas H Haus Member
Haus Member H Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 68 Kansas	Mystery solved� two white tail deers, we caught them in the act last night around 11:00

Re: Cat Tails #48798 07/14/04 05:53 PM
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,902 Surry Co NC R Ric Swaim Lunker
Ric Swaim Lunker R Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,902 Surry Co NC	$\:D$ Pond Boss Subscriber & Books Owner If you can read this ... thank a teacher. Since it's in english ... thank our military! Ric

Re: Cat Tails #48799 07/14/04 06:21 PM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 59 Valparaiso, NE B Brad B. Lunker
Brad B. Lunker B Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 59 Valparaiso, NE	Ric- I'm sticking to my story! Brad B.

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