Dead goose mystery

[plowhog]

Could a river otter attack a goose? If so maybe that explains the goose with the bad flipper, and the recent dead goose. The remaining geese continue to refuse to use the pond. They are hanging out in my pasture and sometimes on the lawn.

Two years ago a river otter found my pond, and virtually wiped out the catfish population. Then it left. I thought for good.

But, I've seen a few depressions that look like otter "slides" alongside the pond lately. And something keeps fleeing when I approach the pond where all the cattails are. Whatever it is makes a racket going through the cattails to open water. I have not seen it yet, whatever it is, but I've spooked it 3 times now. I'm guessing whatever it is must be at least the size of a rabbit. But that's just based on the movement of the cattails.

 

[the old grind]

Muskrats won't make slides, maybe obvious feed-beds, and few but otters ever do. Both will swim among the cattails. One will make a mess of them. channel cats compete with bass as predators. Not likely any animal(s) would diminish a panfish population, a sign that a pond is at or near balance.

David next door has a pond also dug by the guy who once sand-pitted my ten. He showed up todaywith a snapper in a bucket. Carapace was at least 6" x 8". It had the typical 'mountain' sections of the shell and long tail. Dave said he got it out of the pond by teasing it to grab a stick and yanking after a few tries.

I think he was showing off a bit and suggested he pull his carry piece to spare any water birds in either of our ponds. He sure didn't want his 10 YO Daughter and her friends playing with it. btw, IMO it's ok to wonder why a goose died but one could be glad that means one less to wave off, yell at, spook with bottle rockets, etc.

 

[oosik]

If it's the size of a rabbit - muskrat. North American River Otter average around 20 pounds. Otter DO make slides - muskrats don't. I've had Canadian Geese and otter on my lake at the same time. They don't seem to bother each other.

Each with their own objective - neither clash.

 

[check]

Very interesting mystery. Will looking forward to learning what the cause is!

 

[the old grind]

Ya just never know if a wounded goose has been shot at by someone over the fence. They're not popular as pets.

 

[JethroB]

Geese make for good target practice with a paintball gun. Extra points for skipping the ball on the water prior to reaching the objective.

 

[/pine]

Geese make for good target practice with a paintball gun. Extra points for skipping the ball on the water prior to reaching the objective.

People that harass animals wildlife or domestic do not deserve to be alive...!

 

[plowhog]

Ya just never know if a wounded goose has been shot at by someone over the fence.

Well, very unlikely due to the size of my property and location of the pond. And it would presume an earlier errant shot that hit the other goose's foot?

I researched muskrats and they get active around dusk and overnight. So I'm going to sneak up on the pond around dusk and see what I can learn.

*Something* is in that pond that is making the geese not go onto the water.

 

[CobyRupert]

Would OP swim in his pond?
Discarded piranhas? Put on you Kevlar trunks.

 

[the old grind]

IMO curiosity is one thing and wishing there were more geese on a pond to fertilize the weeds they eat is quite another. Just sayin'. btw, nobody's 'death pond' will make a dent in goose populations any time soon. Let 'em live but wave 'em off when you can or learn why others do.