Ducks killed.

[neil cooney 10,415]

9 week old mallards killed on me by a bite to the underside. Any eaten were on their backs and breasts eaten like a sparrow hawk eating a pigeon.I've ruled out buzzards. Not a mark on the head and there's a trout stream a field away from the pond they were on. 6 birds killed.

Any ideas ???????

[Lab 10,979]

9 week old mallards killed on me by a bite to the underside. Any eaten were on their backs and breasts eaten like a sparrow hawk eating a pigeon.I've ruled out buzzards. Not a mark on the head and there's a trout stream a field away from the pond they were on. 6 birds killed.

Any ideas ???????

Mink or otter..

[CarraghsGem 92]

where were the bodys found? in water or on the bank?

 

if in water i know its a long shot but pike?

another even longer shot; snapping turtle gone wild?

[roebuck220 80]

otter

["Earth!" 503]

otter

[sounder 9]

mink i say

["Earth!" 503]

mink i say

 

with their backs and underside eaten?

theres no mention of head damage

[neil cooney 10,415]

Yesterday when I discovered the dead ducks I put 3 of the dead ones out into a paddock beside the pond.

Around half ten last night a friend shot a dog fox in the paddock that was rooting at the dead ducks but I'd agree with most on here and say that an otter is the culprit. The nearby trout stream has a good population.

[DUCKWING 302]

LADS ,

 

THAT COULD WELL BE A RAT .............

 

RATS OFTEN START EATING THE BIRDS CROPS FULL OF GRAIN WHEN THEY ARE HUDDLED OVER NIGHT ON THE GROUND ......... ANOTHER TELL TALE RAT ATTACK IS WHEN A WING IS FOUND SNAPPED OFF AT THE SHOULDER JOINT OR CHICKS WITH BROKEN WINGS , UP AT THAT SAME JOINT .. WHERE THEY TRY AND DRAG THE YOUNGSTERS AWAY FROM THE HUDDLE .....

 

A RAT WILL TAKE ONLY A FEW PER NIGHT USUALLY ....... THOUGH SOMETIMES WILL TAKE ALL THEY CAN GET WHEN IN YOUNG .......

 

IF IT WAS A MINK OR OTHER THEY WOULD ALL BE DEAD .........

[Lab 10,979]

LADS ,

 

THAT COULD WELL BE A RAT .............

 

RATS OFTEN START EATING THE BIRDS CROPS FULL OF GRAIN WHEN THEY ARE HUDDLED OVER NIGHT ON THE GROUND ......... ANOTHER TELL TALE RAT ATTACK IS WHEN A WING IS FOUND SNAPPED OFF AT THE SHOULDER JOINT OR CHICKS WITH BROKEN WINGS , UP AT THAT SAME JOINT .. WHERE THEY TRY AND DRAG THE YOUNGSTERS AWAY FROM THE HUDDLE .....

 

A RAT WILL TAKE ONLY A FEW PER NIGHT USUALLY ....... THOUGH SOMETIMES WILL TAKE ALL THEY CAN GET WHEN IN YOUNG .......

 

IF IT WAS A MINK OR OTHER THEY WOULD ALL BE DEAD .........

Depends on the size of the pond mate......seen plenty mink/otter killings and often they are in the 10/20. A large pond would give the ducks a decent escape route and eventually the mink/otter would stop for a feed.

[DUCKWING 302]

TRUE FELLA ,

 

THOUGH A 9 WEEK OLD DUCKLING WOULDNT PROVE TOO MUCH OF A MATCH FOR A MINK

 

 

ALL THE BEST

 

 

DUCKWING

[dpb82uk 138]

a mink wood of took them to its nest or stash them ner by and wood of dun its best to get as many as it cud

[perthshire keeper 1,237]

i would say otter we had a load killed last year with just the arse and parsons nose eaten and some with the bills off at the head like some one had sawn then off i sat out with the lamp and it was a otter seen him do it

["Earth!" 503]

TRUE FELLA ,

 

THOUGH A 9 WEEK OLD DUCKLING WOULDNT PROVE TOO MUCH OF A MATCH FOR A MINK

 

 

ALL THE BEST

 

 

DUCKWING

 

but mink are far stronger than a rat

 

i still say otter.

[Buddon Ness 0]

otter gets my vote just lost 100+ same way blessed. Like P.Keeper saw them at it.Look for spraints and you'll find them full bone and feathers.