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Duckling Predation #6709286
12/29/19 12:10 AM
12/29/19 12:10 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 10
Western Montana
S
Sabertooth Offline OP
trapper
Sabertooth  Offline OP
trapper
S

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 10
Western Montana
I have a question for you gents. Last spring in western Washington I was over to my daughters house and it sits on acreage with a pond. The mallard hen had 11 ducklings when I was there but on my next visit in broad daylight and no noise every time the hen went around the pond which does have low over hanging branches and trees in spots a duckling would come up missing. I tried to find out what was taking it but could not find any sign so any ideas as I am going to shut that critter down this spring if I have to drain the pond. I saw no sign of mink,birds of prey, raccoon though I am sure the coons are around. So give me your best ideas and suggestions please. Thanks in advance

Sabertooth


"I don't apologize for being a trapper and doing what I love to do"
Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Sabertooth] #6709298
12/29/19 12:20 AM
12/29/19 12:20 AM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,540
Champaign County, Ohio.
K
KeithC Offline
trapper
KeithC  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,540
Champaign County, Ohio.
Probably a snapping turtle. That's exactly how they operate.

Keith

Re: Duckling Predation [Re: KeithC] #6709316
12/29/19 12:49 AM
12/29/19 12:49 AM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,870
Mn
N
nightlife Offline
trapper
nightlife  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,870
Mn
Originally Posted by KeithC
Probably a snapping turtle. That's exactly how they operate.

Keith


X2 they will suck them right down often without you even seeing it happen



�Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.�
― Robert A. Heinlein
Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Sabertooth] #6709349
12/29/19 01:29 AM
12/29/19 01:29 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512
Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30 Offline
trapper
yotetrapper30  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512
Oakland, MS
Snappers for sure. I lost three ducklings as soon as I turned them loose in the pond. Two more with mangled feet. Shot a few snappers but it still took six months before the ducks would get near the pond again.


~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Sabertooth] #6709360
12/29/19 01:38 AM
12/29/19 01:38 AM
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,180
Priest River, Idaho USA
S
SundanceMtnMan Offline
trapper
SundanceMtnMan  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,180
Priest River, Idaho USA
I am not sure but I don't believe there are any snappers in Washington. Possibly some type of fish maybe a bass. I am interested in how long a trip around the pond took.


"They Say Nothing is Impossible,
But, I Do Nothing Every Day."
Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Sabertooth] #6709361
12/29/19 01:39 AM
12/29/19 01:39 AM
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,180
Priest River, Idaho USA
S
SundanceMtnMan Offline
trapper
SundanceMtnMan  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,180
Priest River, Idaho USA
Google says I am wrong. I have never heard of a snapper out here.


"They Say Nothing is Impossible,
But, I Do Nothing Every Day."
Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Sabertooth] #6709364
12/29/19 01:44 AM
12/29/19 01:44 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512
Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30 Offline
trapper
yotetrapper30  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,512
Oakland, MS
Other large turtles will take them as well. As well as larger fish like Pike and Muskies.... and even bass.

Last edited by yotetrapper30; 12/29/19 01:44 AM.

~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Sabertooth] #6709408
12/29/19 07:21 AM
12/29/19 07:21 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
T
Trapper Dahlgren Offline
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
loons kill them all the time

Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Sabertooth] #6709468
12/29/19 09:09 AM
12/29/19 09:09 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
D
danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
I found what looked like muskrat remains in a flathead catfish belly once and feathers twice. So if you don't have predatory turtles it likely is a predatory fish


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Sabertooth] #6709472
12/29/19 09:12 AM
12/29/19 09:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
A fish more than likely


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Sabertooth] #6709546
12/29/19 10:30 AM
12/29/19 10:30 AM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,635
Wabash, IN USA
Flipper 56 Offline
trapper
Flipper 56  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,635
Wabash, IN USA
I have seen turtles grab them first hand and also a bass, I walked out on the pier and watched the bass work to get it down. Doubt you have northerns in a pond but pike will eat them for sure.


"Where Can A Man Find Bear Beaver And Other Critters Worth Cash Money When Skinned?"

Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Flipper 56] #6710008
12/29/19 06:29 PM
12/29/19 06:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,857
MI
T
trappingthomas Offline
trapper
trappingthomas  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,857
MI
Originally Posted by Flipper 56
I have seen turtles grab them first hand and also a bass, I walked out on the pier and watched the bass work to get it down. Doubt you have northerns in a pond but pike will eat them for sure.



Flipper may have nailed it. Have a business partner who stocked pike in his pond (Lord knows why). Seen them nail two duckling's myself. Also, once walked to the pond with daughter spooked a bunch of baby geese into pond and one went down with barely a splash! She felt so guilty lol

Re: Duckling Predation [Re: Sabertooth] #6710460
12/29/19 10:58 PM
12/29/19 10:58 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
J
J.Morse Offline
trapper
J.Morse  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
It doesn't take much of a pike to nail a duckling. YouTube has videos of it. Snappers are good at that too, as already stated. My All Purpose Boy and I once came up on a struggling Great Blue Heron. A medium-large snapper had the poor thing right by the feathers of it's taint. We caused it to struggle hard enough that it pulled away and left said turtle with a mouth full of taint feathers. That heron was nearing total exhaustion. Had we not come along it likely would have lost the tug-of-war.


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