Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Balance of plants in the environment Something is after my water lilies

I added a small pond (1/10 ac??) up ravine of my main pond last summer. The goal was to catch sediment/nutrients from a crop field and raise forage. I have been working on getting marginals established. I planted 4 hardy hybrid water lilies this spring. They all had sent up numerous pads and one was starting to flower, they looked to be doing great.

Now my dilemma: A few days ago I noticed a couple pads floating on the other side of the pond. It was the morning after a severe storm so I thought maybe winds were responsible. As of yesterday there are pads floating all over. Two of the plants are completly de-paded and the other two only have a few pads left. I picked up three of the floating pads and they appear to have been cut or chewed off. The stems are intact and were 6 inches to better than a foot long. Most of the pads floating appear to have long stems intact. There is no appearance the pads have been chewed or eaten.

In looking through the forum posts I see muskrats and turtles are potential culprits, however I have seen no sign of either in this pond. I do have a few turtles in the bigger pond (snapping and mud turtles) but the two lilies growing there haven't been touched. Sorry this is so long winded.

Is there some other possible cause and any thing I can do to stop this?

My vote is for the turtles. Turtles in the larger pond are not bothering the lilies probably due to more and better foods available. That is likely not the case in the newer smaller pond - i.e. food shortage for turtles thus they are tasting (eating) what is available.

Yep. Turtles. They prefer to eat the lily tubers only. It's their equivalent to Filet Mignon.

Thanks Bill. Are they after the bulb? I don't see any sign of them eating the pads and most of the stems seem long.

Thanks for the reinforcement Instar.

I wonder - if I staked chicken wire around the plants, do you think that would keep them safe til they get good and established?

Chicken wire or any fencing rubber/vinyl coated 2"-3" would also work as it is stiffer and more likely to hold its shape. Set a baited hooked line for catching a turtle.

Turtle damage to lilies is as you describe. Not sure why they don't eat more of the leaves. Maybe they are just tasting or tormening mother nature similar to racoons in a sweet corn patch. Just one bite and on to the next ear.

Thanks Bill, I'll give the wire a try.