What is eating my pond fish? No tracks in or out of the water. No left overs except the backbone and some fin

Question

In the last week 9 fish have been eaten. No signs of what kind of critter is the culpret. These KOI were prize fish and very pretty. What would eat them and leave the backbone. I am thinking a crane. I live in Alabama in a bird sanctuary area. What ever it is, it is good at fishing.

Answer 1

it might be a bird. some fish actually eat each other.

Answer 2

Raccoons are really prone to this, but I think you might be right about the crane, if not a crane, some other sort of bird. I am sorry to hear about the trouble. My friends had raccoon problems with her pond, she put a thin mesh over the pond, just under the surface of the water and that helped somewhat, it just didn't let you see the fish as well. Good luck, hope you don't lose any more fish.

Answer 3

I'd have said raccoons, but they'd leave more of a mess. Your culprit is probably a heron of some sort. They are very common in the Gulf Coast states. Herons wade and fish in shallow water. They vocalize a hoarse guttural – frack- frack- frack. You will have to stake out the pond and see what's happening. If it is herons, I'm not sure what you can do to keep them away. You might call your local cooperative extension or check with the bird sanctuary.

Answer 4

It's not gonna be a crane, the swallow fish whole. I'd bet you it's a cat. Cat's usaully don't leave tracks since they're so light. So just cause there aren't tracks doesn't mean it's a bird. Could be a Coon but they are much heavier, and usually leave tracks. If its important to you, wait for it to come back and shoot it. Or if your one of those bleeding heart kinda people, set out a mouse trap with something like tuna fish on it. that should scare it away.

Answer 5

Well, cranes swallow thier prey whole and it's unlikely the waste would be deposited in the same place due to time of digestion.

Are you sure you don't see any raccoon or cat tracks anywhere?

They can be pretty sneaky, and both animals climb very well and can attack from elevation.

If you have some sort of camera, or lots of time on your hands, try waiting up for the culprit at night or whenever with a pellet gun.

Answer 6

Here, kitty kitty kitty...

BANG!

In all seriousness though, where are you finding the remains? If they are on land then it's obviously a common predator...anything from a house cat to a raccoon most likely. Or go with the obvious-a bird. You do live in a bird sanctuary after all. ;-) If they are in the water though, then you've got a water predator. May be a bigger fish or a turtle or something.

Answer 7

Out of all the answers nobody mentioned a possum. I used to watch them pull crawfish and small fish out of the stream in the backyard and eat them, they ofen left behind the back bone. Most fishing birds eat the fish whole, only the raptors rip them to shreds.

Answer 8

My sister had the same problem. At first we thought it just maybe crashed into something, silly idea, but of course we were wrong. She had a tank full of fish {several died :-( } and soon one day we found out that a couple of fish were eating, and murdering, the other fish. I suggested that you look into what kind of fish you have in your pond; I know that Bata fish are fighting fish.

Goodluck!

Answer 9

I used to live in the south and had a large Koi pond. We had trouble with hawks. Give your fish plenty of foliage and lilypads to have shelter.

Answer 10

Sounds like you have a shark problem. I would contact Sea World to see what kind of advice they can give you. I will observe a moment of silence for the poor fish who bravely gave their all swimming in the pond.