SEAN3513 7 Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 hello all, just been speaking to a mate, who, had a coarse and trout fishery, which he no longer runs, so he has let the land and ponds to a bloke who is setting up a wildlife oasis!! he spent in the region of £2500 buying some swans and other water fowl. when checking them one morning he found some of them dead.....with broken necks???? but other than that unharmed. the trout pond was emptied but the coarse pond had some fish, including some quite big carp, left in. and some of these have disapeared???? first thoughts where poachers !! but the land is heavily protected around its perimiter by various means, plus the remaining birds a terrified to go back on the water?? he has made a few phone calls to well informed people and it all seems to point towards otters????????? wondered if any one else has heard of this or similar????? thanks sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
robgriff1 4 Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 Probably Eastern European otters mate!! Then again they would have ate the swans too!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Geoff.C 0 Posted May 16, 2008 Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Sounds a bit suspicious to me. I would have thought an otter would kill something then eat it?? I only know what I have read of otter behaviour, of course, but various fowl with broken necks does not sound "otter-ish" to me. They would kill with a "chomp" I would have thought? Although foxes will kill all they can, if they get amongst chickens say, this does not seem foxy either. Poachers who got disturbed is my best guess. There could have been a otter at the fish though? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SEAN3513 7 Posted May 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 (edited) Mmmmmmmmmmm.......my thoughts aswell geoff............dosn't explain why the other birds are scared to go back on the water????? scuba diving poachers????? Edited May 16, 2008 by SEAN3513 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouse 282 Posted May 16, 2008 Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 polish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SEAN3513 7 Posted May 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
macberran 2 Posted May 17, 2008 Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 Not an otter IMO. I had some in my garden in Argyle. They didn't tackle the big birds at all, I witnessed though out in the bay a circle off geese rond the goslings in the water. When I got the bins out I could see them " chasing " an otter under the water that was trying for a gosling. They had access too crabs and the like but like any predator they run a damage limitations policie in that any injurie incurred while hunting could be life threatening so why wrestle a swan. Also they don't "ruin" a source, they take once and come back later. If there were fish, birds would defo be off the menu! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SEAN3513 7 Posted May 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 macberran said: Not an otter IMO. I had some in my garden in Argyle. They didn't tackle the big birds at all, I witnessed though out in the bay a circle off geese rond the goslings in the water. When I got the bins out I could see them " chasing " an otter under the water that was trying for a gosling. They had access too crabs and the like but like any predator they run a damage limitations policie in that any injurie incurred while hunting could be life threatening so why wrestle a swan. Also they don't "ruin" a source, they take once and come back later. If there were fish, birds would defo be off the menu! thanks for that...................puzzling......i will be seeing him over the weekend so will find out whats transpired over the last fews days. i think there was only 2 dead birds.....don't know how old/size they where??? just thought i'd ask and see if it was common.................seems not!?!?! thanks for the replys. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spudlington 3 Posted May 17, 2008 Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 Mink or poachers!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
macberran 2 Posted May 17, 2008 Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 I agree Spud......mink Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.