Moll. 1,770 Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 at wildlife. The last few days we have been working at the ponds in the castle grounds. One of them had been partially drained for access at the edges. Yesterday i took Terra and Keepa with me after lunch and they marked a tree stump at the waters edge. Knowing there is the odd rat there i went to investigate. Around the base of the stump are loads of thick sprigs growing out of it, and hidden away behind one clump in a hollow, there were dozens of stickleback's, some with their heads eaten and some intact. It looks like ratty had been out collecting them during the night for his larder. I have no idea how long they had been in there but at the very least for the four hours we had been there and possible longer.....but the amazing thing was, loads of them were still alive, we were able to get them out, put them in the pond and off they swam. I presume the cold weather had aided their survival? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tegater 789 Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 On 13/02/2012 at 09:13, Moll. said: at wildlife. The last few days we have been working at the ponds in the castle grounds. One of them had been partially drained for access at the edges. Yesterday i took Terra and Keepa with me after lunch and they marked a tree stump at the waters edge. Knowing there is the odd rat there i went to investigate. Around the base of the stump are loads of thick sprigs growing out of it, and hidden away behind one clump in a hollow, there were dozens of stickleback's, some with their heads eaten and some intact. It looks like ratty had been out collecting them during the night for his larder. I have no idea how long they had been in there but at the very least for the four hours we had been there and possible longer.....but the amazing thing was, loads of them were still alive, we were able to get them out, put them in the pond and off they swam. I presume the cold weather had aided their survival? Very interesting that Moll. There are stories of people who have fallen into very cold water and managed to survive unconcious for a long time because the cold has slowed down their heart beat, but kept the major organs warm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 6,174 Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 Amazing! So amazing that I did a trawl on Google and found this: http://www.howfishbehave.ca/pdf/oxygen.pdf I know that this won't come as any surprise to fishermen and anglers, but to those of us unused to how fish live, it is very interesting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rolfe 2 Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 Sounds more like a mink may have been active around the tree roots........they store fish in larder type stashes........i could be wrong as old ratty will also take fish if the water is low enough........just a thought. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ginny Spinner 455 Posted February 13, 2012 Report Share Posted February 13, 2012 My dad once had an old collie x alsation called Mist, she once went onto the frozen pond and fell under the ice, no matter how much he liked the dog he wasn't going to risking his life for a dog... So he had to go home only for 3 days later the bitch arrived back home? :blink:He was on the front of The Sun and everything haha!! God no's what happened, I doubt he'll ever find out but it really was strange, i'll ask him if he still as the news paper clipping! She was a really clever dog she used to wait outside the pub for my granda all day, and even used to wait outside the shop waiting for my uncle to finish work! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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