What killed 27 Koi in Shropshire?

[PeakOil 352]

What killed Shropshire Koi?

A Shropshire Koi keeper has had all 27 of her fish killed, with their remains scattered around the garden. So far, the culprit has still not been positively identified.

 

Rosemary Jones told the BBC that she had called various agencies, including the Department of the Environment, Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Environmental Health Department, but was no closer to a solution.

 

She said: "I think it's mink, but I can't get anyone to listen. It's not heron. These are absolutely shredded. They have been raked with claws. Their insides have been pulled out. Their heads have been pulled off."

 

Mrs Jones, who has been keeping Koi in her pond near Shrewbsury for 25 years without problems, said that otters were living locally but that she didn't think they were the culprits either. "I believe an otter would have killed a fish and taken it away and eaten it. This just killed for fun."

 

John Hughes from Shropshire Wildlife Trust agreed that mink were probably to blame for the massacre: "Mink get into a killing frenzy," he said. "I suspect her pool is not connected to a water course. Otters don't like to cross land."

 

The fish were all about 5-8 lbs in size and had been bought as tiddlers.

 

Otters don't like to cross land? Your thoughts gentlemen please.

[SHanded. . 110]

My brothers part of the syndicate on birch grove, an mangrove In Shropshire. I no there work partys this year involved alot of diggin so otter fencing could be put up an I know there's alot in that area. Rule out otter at your peril. But there not as innocent as some people make out.. All the best!!....

[Strong Stuff 2,171]

Deffo Otters around here, have seen a few now, am on the border with Wales near Ellesmere.

[masmiffy 82]

Sure does sound like a 4 legged pest, otter or mink

Wouldnt think it was an Osprey and def not a Heron.

 

My dad lost two a couple of years back, they were laid side by side on his lawn like someone had took a pic and not returned em!

Wasnt a mark on either of the fish!

Never did decide what happened

[Paul in North Lincs 15]

I'd bet a pound to a pinch of sh1t taht its otter. A friends day ticked fishery was decimated by on over a 3 week period. Taking fish in excess of 10lb

[Urban Fox Control London 8]

It was Mr.Mink

[heart of wales 19]

All these so called experts visited the site 25 fish killed yet no tracks droppings

Just done a job recently they had gone away for a weekend come back everything in the pond nailed culprit Mink

[moley 115]

What killed Shropshire Koi?

A Shropshire Koi keeper has had all 27 of her fish killed, with their remains scattered around the garden. So far, the culprit has still not been positively identified.

 

Rosemary Jones told the BBC that she had called various agencies, including the Department of the Environment, Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Environmental Health Department, but was no closer to a solution.

 

She said: "I think it's mink, but I can't get anyone to listen. It's not heron. These are absolutely shredded. They have been raked with claws. Their insides have been pulled out. Their heads have been pulled off."

 

Mrs Jones, who has been keeping Koi in her pond near Shrewbsury for 25 years without problems, said that otters were living locally but that she didn't think they were the culprits either. "I believe an otter would have killed a fish and taken it away and eaten it. This just killed for fun."

 

John Hughes from Shropshire Wildlife Trust agreed that mink were probably to blame for the massacre: "Mink get into a killing frenzy," he said. "I suspect her pool is not connected to a water course. Otters don't like to cross land."

 

The fish were all about 5-8 lbs in size and had been bought as tiddlers.

 

Otters don't like to cross land? Your thoughts gentlemen please.

typical bullshit comment by someone that knows nowt about animal behaviour, otter will travel for miles overland if they want to and they do mass killing , they are basically a big mink

[billythekid 38]

I LIVE IN LUDLOW MATE AND THERE ARE OTTERS ROUND HERE

 

 

[OldTrapCollector 377]

What killed Shropshire Koi?

A Shropshire Koi keeper has had all 27 of her fish killed, with their remains scattered around the garden. So far, the culprit has still not been positively identified.

 

Rosemary Jones told the BBC that she had called various agencies, including the Department of the Environment, Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Environmental Health Department, but was no closer to a solution.

 

She said: "I think it's mink, but I can't get anyone to listen. It's not heron. These are absolutely shredded. They have been raked with claws. Their insides have been pulled out. Their heads have been pulled off."

 

Mrs Jones, who has been keeping Koi in her pond near Shrewbsury for 25 years without problems, said that otters were living locally but that she didn't think they were the culprits either. "I believe an otter would have killed a fish and taken it away and eaten it. This just killed for fun."

 

John Hughes from Shropshire Wildlife Trust agreed that mink were probably to blame for the massacre: "Mink get into a killing frenzy," he said. "I suspect her pool is not connected to a water course. Otters don't like to cross land."

 

The fish were all about 5-8 lbs in size and had been bought as tiddlers.

 

Otters don't like to cross land? Your thoughts gentlemen please.

 

Without seeing the evidence for myself I am inclined to think it is almost certainly the work of an otter, or a pair of otters. Whatever it was it would have left plenty of sign which would stand out clearly to an experienced eye to prove what, how and when it all happened ... and as for them not travelling over land - well that shows how little those so-called 'experts' really know doesn't it?

 

OTC

[Steve Albano 21]

Sounds like raccoons to me.

[willhayes 0]

That deffo the work of either a otter or mink, i would go for a pair of otters....

[Bobba_fett 117]

i'v seen an otter right up on the hill, ran across the track infront of us when we were out lamping

[matt1e 1]

pair of otters for sure as for not traveling across land how do they get from place to place????? I seen a big dog otter in the middle of a field not to far from our house perhaps this was the exception to the rule but the will cross land if they have to

[Simoman 110]

Sounds like raccoons to me.

 

Not unless they came via Virgin airlines matey, we don't have a population of raccoons over here. Could be mink but more then likely otter, we had a koi breeder here in the Lincolnshire wolds, the otter decimated the koi pond until they installed an electric fence around the pond 6 inches of the floor.........