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Thread: Otter Attack

  1. #1

    Otter Attack

    After seven pleasantly uneventful years, on Monday night last week an Otter ripped the net off the corner of my pond and attacked my Koi killing five of eleven fish and mortally gutting another two in the water. I now have four Koi remaining and as you can imagine it is a heartbreaking situation. I've commissioned my brother in law to fabricate a steel cover for the pond and in the mean time have put a high joule livestock electric fence around the pond for a few weeks as a temporary measure.

    I've learned a lot from this community and wanted to ask your expertise about how commonly Otters attack koi ponds and what steps you guys have taken to secure your ponds from this threat?

    Appreciate your thoughts.

    Ade



  2. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Sansai PeterDunn's Avatar
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    Hi Amesbah
    coppied from the internet

    What you can do


    Garden pond fish are at greatest risk of being predated upon by otters during the winter months. However, there are a number of simple proactive measures which pond fish keepers can take to protect their fish from predation, such as:

    • As a winter measure (when hedgehogs should be hibernating), ensure that your garden has been secured e.g. no gaps in fencing
    • Consider placing heavy gauge mesh over your pond during the winter months.
    • Do not use normal pond netting as this will not be effective.
    • Note that otters can squeeze through a 100mm gap.
    • Outside lights may deter predators.
    • At present, sonic devices are untested to the frequencies of an otter’s hearing range.
    • Simple one strand, low voltage electric fencing place around the edge of your pond may help. An otter’s fur does not provide any protection against low voltage electricity. However, be aware that if an otter is extremely hungry, it will be willing to take more of a risk in order to reach a food source.
    • If the fish in your pond are predated upon and you notice dead fish, move any surviving fish to a holding pond, to leave your main pond empty.
    • Do not restock your pond straight away if it is affected by predators.

    The Angling Trust also has some useful information on its website for commercial fish farmers and fishing establishments.
    Have you been affected?

    The UK Wild Otter Trust are currently undertaking a project collecting data on pond predation by otters in order to build up a geographical picture of where these incidents are occurring in the UK.
    If your garden pond has been affected by otter predation and you can assist in this study, please provide the UK Wild Otter Trust with the information as below:

    • Your location (ideally a map grid reference or just general area. Please do not provide your address).
    • The type of fish which have been predated upon.
    • How many fish have been predated upon.

    Please forward this information to the UK Wild Otter Trust directly.
    Email: otters@ukwot.org
    Telephone: 01598 760585 or 07866 462820.
    Many thanks to the UK Wild Otter Trust for the photo.

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Once you know you have otters in your area, there will always be a high risk of a return visit. You could consider building a raised pond?

  5. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Sansai PeterDunn's Avatar
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    Hi Feline
    Having an above ground pond would not deter otters as they can climb like squirrels and are just as resilient.
    Once they have found a food supply as "Arnie's saying I will be back" the otter will definitley return
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Gazkoi's Avatar
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    What a nightmare!!!!

    Hopefully the stronger guarding will prevent their future success on feeding from your pond.

    Cheers

    Gaz
    Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.

    Always happy to help!!

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by PeterDunn View Post
    Hi Feline
    Having an above ground pond would not deter otters as they can climb like squirrels and are just as resilient.
    Once they have found a food supply as "Arnie's saying I will be back" the otter will definitley return
    I guarantee you they could not climb into my pond. Apart from anything else I have not provided them with a ladder

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    Senior Member Rank = Sansai PeterDunn's Avatar
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    LOL feline
    I got no answer to that

  12. #8
    Thanks for the replies and thanks Peter for the detailed info - I have submitted to the otter trust. I was kind of hoping this was a 'passing through' situation and that it won't return but maybe that was just wishful thinking.

    I think I will spend a bit more time checking for gaps in the fence and make sure the new cover is suitably heavy so not possible for an otter to get through.

    Ade

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    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Mikeh83's Avatar
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    This is awful, sorry this has happened Otter Attack I’m assuming you live fairly rural, kinda thankful I’m in an urban area. Hope your new defences hold up.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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    Senior Member Rank = Sansai PeterDunn's Avatar
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    Hi Amesbah.
    I know what its like to lose a koi,I lost one within two days of putting them in my pond earlier this year to a Heron.
    To lose so many beautiful koi must be heartbreaking
    https://www.screwfix.com/p/apollo-13...-9-x-30m/59252
    make sure it is fixed as the otters will get under if you leave to big gaps.
    Otters are swimmers and will just chase the fish around the pond and can stay underwater for up to 8 minutes
    Most attacks happen in the winter months due to lack of food in the rivers and they need to eat up to 25% of their body weight per day
    Last edited by PeterDunn; 15-11-2020 at 11:19 PM.

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by PeterDunn View Post
    Hi Amesbah.
    I know what its like to lose a koi,I lost one within two days of putting them in my pond earlier this year to a Heron.
    To lose so many beautiful koi must be heartbreaking
    https://www.screwfix.com/p/apollo-13...-9-x-30m/59252
    make sure it is fixed as the otters will get under if you leave to big gaps.
    Otters are swimmers and will just chase the fish around the pond and can stay underwater for up to 8 minutes
    Most attacks happen in the winter months due to lack of food in the rivers and they need to eat up to 25% of their body weight per day
    Don’t use galvanised mesh over a pond- zinc is toxic to fish. Stainless steel weld mesh is the way to go.

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    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    sorry to hear of your loss mate. heart breaking. sounds like the job for a dog .
    fred

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    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Spongebob's Avatar
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    Surely the solution is a polycarbonate cover? That takes away the food source over the winter months and keeps temps constant.
    Fibreglassed/5000 gals/4.5 m Tunnel/Spindrifter/Twin drums/Bio chambers/Beads/Showers/Remora ASHP

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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spongebob View Post
    Surely the solution is a polycarbonate cover? That takes away the food source over the winter months and keeps temps constant.
    Not if he has a liner based in ground pond without slabs/concrete all the way round. We would need to know more about pond construction to advise properly on this- otters can dig.

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    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
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    sorry to hear about this, awful...... as said above they will return to food source, especially easy pickings sorry to say, as per your route heavy duty cover is the only deterent and even then they could dig under so maybe sink something into the ground as well around the edge to stop that...good luck.
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai phil45's Avatar
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    this stuff is very strong i use it against foxes ........ check out the seller as they do any quantity https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8x-Welded...QAAOSwYlRZMRno

  27. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Mikeh83's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by phil45 View Post
    this stuff is very strong i use it against foxes ........ check out the seller as they do any quantity https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8x-Welded...QAAOSwYlRZMRno
    As already mentioned, you would be best to source stainless steel for use in and around ponds, galvanised steel will be coated in zinc.

    How I understand it and this is more of an issue with lower ph/kh I believe. Over time dissolved metals will accumulate within the fish this can cause an immunosuppressant that allows normal pathogenic bacteria to gain the upper hand and can cause ulceration / septicaemia/ fin rot leading to death.

    The same can be said for copper.

    So I don’t think it’s the metals themselves that are toxic though.. I’m sure someone will correct me if I am wrong..

    Yes stainless will be more expensive, and others may chose zinc and find its fine for a number of years but when you see posts of fin rot, unexplained ulcers/ deaths it does make me wonder... Otter Attack


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    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai phil45's Avatar
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    i coat all of mine with two or three coats of black paint applied with a 4 inch roller and its really quick to do , and it sounds funny but as you paint the wire disappears .it just does not stand out after its black

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  31. #19
    The pond is slabbed on top of brick side walls. Its useful that my brother in law is a fabricator by trade - we have agreed two 25mm box section frames with 3mm diameter 50mm mesh welded to it then all black powder coated. We were going to have it free stand in holes around the pond but I've just texted him to add feet so we bolt it down. It will probably weigh 50kg but I don't want anything squeezing under or levering it up.

    Thanks again for all the advice!

    Ade

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  33. #20
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Amesbah View Post
    The pond is slabbed on top of brick side walls. Its useful that my brother in law is a fabricator by trade - we have agreed two 25mm box section frames with 3mm diameter 50mm mesh welded to it then all black powder coated. We were going to have it free stand in holes around the pond but I've just texted him to add feet so we bolt it down. It will probably weigh 50kg but I don't want anything squeezing under or levering it up.

    Thanks again for all the advice!

    Ade
    Sounds like your pond will be like Fort Knox. Hope your fish will be safe now

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