I've noticed a few cattail stalks laying down over the past week or so.

Found this yesterday. The white stuff is shredded cattail root. There was another spot down the bank with the same mess.



Wondering if this looks like something a muskrat would do?

Daughter's doberman killed one in the driveway a few weeks ago.

With those facts it appears to be rats. Have any trees been chewed (eliminate beaver) ?

No chewed trees. I did notice some beaver sign on the creek when I was mushroom hunting back in the spring, but I haven't been down there lately to see if they stuck around.
They've moved in a few times over the years, but they get washed out in a big rain, then the creek dries up when summer comes so they usually give up and leave pretty quickly.

Neither of the varmints is welcome in my pond, so...

Augie, I bet it's rats. They are a constant nuisance in our neck of the woods. One even got into the electrical harness of our F150 and tried to nest there. It did not end well for anyone involved.

You may see them swimming in the early morning.

Cutoff cattails like that, are just the Muskrats way of reminding you to keep the 17hmr handy.

These hot days are the perfect time to grab a cup of coffee and sit out there early on a weekend morning with just about anything, but a 17HMR is the ideal choice,, and have some fun.

Three green herons this morning but no sign of rat movement.

Think I'll buy a couple or three traps. Duke 155s are $8.50 at Southern Snares & Supply.

If going the trapping route, the trick is always placement.
I recommend the Trap Stabilizer Stands to help with that.

Appreciate the tip. It's been 40 years or more since I did any trapping.

I think I've identified the general area where the varmint is burrowing into my pond dam.
If I can find his hidey hole it will be curtains...

I believe that I've discovered the absolute best possible solution to removing the rats from my pond.

Step 1) Go fishing

Step 2) Leave wife and daughter at home with margaritas and a Ruger 10-22.

They killed three of the varmints yesterday evening. Said they saw four or five, but three is a good start.

Are they any good at lily eating snappers...If so, send the Margarita recipe a few days in advance...I get it the ingredients, and they're hired (while we go fishing).

Congrats on the good start!

I had one a week ago for the first time on my 1 yr old pond. Never trapped before. Bought 2 of the 110 traps and, Bob's your uncle, dead rat. Trapping knowledge acquired, pond reclaimed, celebration beer.

Nice work!

A trotline or jugline baited with some stinky meat would be the easiest way to get rid of those snapping turtles. Leave a package of boneless chicken breasts in the sun for a couple days, or catch a couple or three hand-sized HBG and kill em. Use big, like 10/0 big, treble hooks, and make sure the hooks are sharp.

I shot two more Friday evening. Didn't see any movement yesterday. Think I'll start plugging burrows now. If they get dug back out I'll know there are more that need killing.