WARNING! This is not a professional website! I am NOT an expert. Do NOT believe everything on this site.

Last Updated: 10/10/07

Mammals

• Cats
  
• Beavers
  
• Deer
  
• Dogs
  
• Foxes
  
• Humans
  
• Moles
  
• Muskrats
  
• Opossums
  
• Raccoons including raccoon deterrents
  
• Skunks

Other mammals not covered include weasels, otters, nutria, etc. that will also eat at a pond.

For information on wildlife including web sites and habitats, see my wildlife page.

This page needs to be updated and is near the top of the agenda if I ever get any time.

Only a rare cat will get into your pond but they will often fish by the edge. If the water is far enough below the rim, they cannot catch anything. None of my cats have ever shown interest in the fish; they do not even acknowledge there is anything there. My ponds have a drop from the edge down to the water which would make it very hard for a cat to even touch a fish without falling in. My outdoor cat has fallen in the pond a few times while walking around the edge. I have never seen a cat move so fast! She wanted out of there. She walks all over the steep and wet waterfall and only drinks water from there.

If cats do fish by your pond and in any case, provide lots of plants and things in which fish can hide. If the cat who is fishing in your pond is yours, make the cat an indoor cat. If the cat is the neighbor's, urge them to keep the cat indoors. Feral and stray cats can be trapped. Stray cats can be adopted. I am a cat lover so I do not advocate any methods that harm cats. For information on managing feral cats, see http://www.alleycat.org.

Beavers are pond creators just like you! They usually will create a pond along a small moving stream. Beavers are highly intelligent and social. If they do move into an ornamental pond (which I have not heard of), they can eat lily and lotus tubers. They eat mostly trees if available. A problem beaver should be relocated. Most local wildlife agencies will take care of this.

We have about a dozen year-round deer on our five acres. At times, we are frustrated because they get into all sorts of trouble including eating all our favorite plants, flowers, and "deer-proof" plants, leaving hoof prints in the mulched beds, and standing in the ponds. The only way we have found that works to keep them off plants is to physically cage them with circular cages of dog fence or chicken wire. The deer have yet to puncture any of the pond liners. This is the major pond-related concern about deer. My large pond has pea gravel in the shallows to dissipate the weight if a deer steps in there. In areas with many deer, it is a good idea to either cover the liner with gravel or dirt or to perhaps use an extra strong liner.

One doe I named My Girl follows me around and eats the extra turkey food. Her yearling son and daughter and new fawns come as well. I can recognize at least half a dozen individual deer and tell you about them. Most of the time, the deer (yes, even bucks who could gore me) and I ignore each other since we are so comfortable with each other. I can get within 3-5 feet no problem. The deer are very sweet and have individual personalities. They eat everything. Nonetheless, I love the deer. If you cannot guess, I vehemently oppose lethal methods to control their overpopulation. It is not their fault that their natural predators (wolves, mountain lions, black bears, etc.) were obliterated. They just want to eat like the rest of us.

More deer information and photos can be found on my deer page.
For a funny deer story, see my pond stories page.

Water loving dogs may jump into ponds, messing up plants and popping holes in the liner. If a neighbor refuses to contain his dog (which is the law in most areas) or your pooch just will not listen, you will have to fence in the pond. Some ponders have dogs that will eat their fish too. Foxes behave like dogs but are more likely to eat fish and less likely to go for a swim.

On the plus side, dogs are often used around large ponds to scare off predators including great blue herons and raccoons. They will also scare off cats, people, deer, etc.

The neighbor's dogs really did a number on my ponds in 2005. Check out these pond newsletters for details under Happenings at Robyn's Ponds:
July 2005 newsletter
October 2005 newsletter
November 2005 newsletter

Foxes may come to ponds to drink or fish. They usually do not do much damage. As with similar predators, they can be kept from eating fish with fencing, netting over the pond, deep water, a cliff from the ground to the water, and/or lots of hiding plants (mostly plants) for the animals.

Here are two photos of three red fox kits on their den on 4/13/05 on a nearby property (used to grow hay for cattle): kits and kits.

Yes, I said humans. Hopefully, most visitors are invited or harmless trespassers who want a peek at your pond. Some, however, may decide to vandalize your pond. They may poison the pond (fertilizers, bleach, soaps, etc.), steal or kill fish, pop liners, destroy plants, etc. This can be very sad and discouraging. Security equipment may be necessary. Even friendly visitors may trip in for an unexpected swim. If you are in a populated area, it would probably be good to fence the pond in so that no one falls in the pond. In some areas, they can sue you even though they were trespassing. Also, if lots of young children are around, fencing may be necessary. Be sure that your visitors and neighbors who can see the pond know to stay off the rocks or edge of the pond and other pond rules you may have. Unless it is your intention (for a business or you are real proud of your work), it is best to situate your pond where as few people passing by or neighbors can see it. Our ponds are well hidden. I have gotten e-mails from people whose ponds were poisoned by disgruntled neighbors and trouble-making neighborhood teenagers.

A rare mole will get into a pond. The main concern with moles is that they may burrow into a liner or otherwise displace it. Moles can be trapped with various fatal in-ground traps or by other methods. A sonic mole repellant is available that uses sound to deter them. There are a LOT of moles near my ponds as evidenced by raised mole-runs in the mulch and grass all over our property. I have a sonic mole repellant but am afraid to use it near the pond for fear that the noise will also bother the fish. My pond has been set up since 1997 and has yet to show any mole damage. I have heard only one ponder's report of mole damage to a liner in that time. So, moles are rarely a problem unless you trip over their runs, or they eat your favorite bulbs (that eat a lot of ours). In fact, they are beneficial because they also eat beetle larvae in the ground. We used to have a dog who would hunt moles and kill them.

Muskrats are common in wetland areas. They are similar to small beavers in that they can alter a landscape by eating lots of vegetation and moving things around. Muskrats like to borrow into soft earth around a natural pond. They rarely show up to a lined pond but may come in and eat some plants or even create havoc. Muskrats are not much bigger than a large guinea pig and are hunted by both natural predators and humans. I have never seen one so I cannot offer first-hand information.

An occasional opossum may decide to try a fishy snack but I have yet to hear a complaint on the newsgroup (rec.ponds) or the internet. As with similar predators, they can be kept from eating fish with fencing, netting over the pond, deep water, a cliff from the ground to the water, and/or lots of hiding plants (mostly plants) for the animals.

Raccoons love to eat fish. They love to create general havoc. Our raccoons also love to kill snails and frogs and then not bother to eat them!! If you wake one morning to find plants knocked over and fish parts lying about, a raccoon may be the culprit. Raccoons like to be able to walk into the water. If the water is a drop off from the edge, they are less likely to get in the water. Ramps are open invitations. Cliffs and nets deter raccoons somewhat. Also, special contraptions that turn on lights or spray animals can be used to try to deter them from eating your fish.

We have raccoons. They fought over any dead fish I tossed out of the pond into the woods in 1998 (a spawning die-off). They also broke into my wild turkey's pen by bending the wire and ate his food at night until we replaced the wire. Sometimes they scream which makes it impossible to sleep. I hear them and see their tracks and aftermath often. In my large pond, I sometimes find pots knocked over in the shallow end. No large fish have disappeared but if they had eaten a few dozen minnows I would never know since there are hundreds. I have seen raccoon tracks in my small totally wild (no fish) lined pond farthest from the house. By 6/22/99, I had seen the raccoon myself on the back porch eating leftovers multiple times. By 2000, he/she comes at least a few times a week to the porch after dark. His/her wobbling walk is quite funny. Unlike most people with raccoons, this one does not bother with my ponds so we tolerate his/her cute presence. I guess he/she is too full on leftover cat, dog, and people food to bother swimming around in the deep pond trying to catch fish. The raccoon occasionally knocks over pots in the pond but seems to be spending most of his/her trouble-making in destroying the "squirrel-proof" bird feeder and turning the hummingbird feeder upside down for a sugary drink. By 2001, the raccoon now roots around in my smaller ponds and eats snails, tadpoles, and green frogs, often pulling them out and leaving them to die without bothering to eat them. He/she also splashes a lot of water out of the smaller ponds. Photos of the raccoon are at the top of this page.

It is unfortunate that the sight of a raccoon generates fear because raccoons are a major carrier of rabies. Not all raccoons carry rabies. If the raccoon is out walking around in daylight or approaches people or pets instead of running away, then the raccoon could be rabid and would needs to be caught by animal control. In addition to just being out in the daylight which some specific raccoons are known to do (and it is normal for them), a rabid raccoon will act confused, walk crooked or in circles, drool, and/or act very sick or aggressive. Otherwise, the raccoon probably is not rabid. What with rabies and being killed by cars, it is amazing that raccoon populations have not plummeted. Our raccoons as they have gotten used to us have started to approach us slightly when we come out with food and come out before it is totally dark but they are very alert and act normally so it is no problem. Years ago, I saw a raccoon out at mid-day, kind of zig-zagging and paying no attention to my car. That raccoon might have been rabid. Try not to live in fear, use common sense, and if you are ever bitten by any wild animal that could carry rabies, go to the hospital and get the shots just in case. In my area, raccoons and foxes are the two most likely species to bite humans if rabid.

In my newsletters, you can read stories about our raccoons. One young one started hanging around during the day for a week in late August to September, 2004. Here are some photos of that raccoon:
1. Raccoon up a tree - 8/31/04.
2. Raccoon up a tree - looking really scared, 8/31/04.
3. Raccoon in the marginals of my pond - seems to be saying "I didn't do it!" (referring to my 14" goldfish Jack I had just found dead.) - 9/1/04.
4. Raccoon in the pond overflow - 9/1/04.
5. Raccoon running from the pond - 9/1/04.

On 10/18/05 and 10/19/05, Cecilia sent me some photos of the raccoons that have come to feed on her porch in Washington state. Here are some photos!
Seven raccoons in a group
One raccoon
The head of one raccoon
One raccoon and a cat
One raccoon sitting so cute
Four raccoons feeding
One raccoon sitting on his rear waiting to be let inside (or so he thinks)

She sent some more photos on 11/30/05:
Raccoon doing his bear imitation
Raccoon over the edge of something
Two raccoons come to eat

Raccoon videos

Raccoon Deterrents:

1. Eliminate shallow areas. Raccoons do not like to swim.
2. Eliminate areas where the raccoon can walk right into the water. They do not like to have to hop off a cliff to get into the water (but our raccoon does do it sometimes, at least into the shallow areas).
3. Add a "heron-scarer" which is a motion-sensing squirter attached to the garden hose. It will squirt anything that moves (including you!).
4. Put a pond net over the pond.
5. Add lots of hiding places for fish including many plants, overturned pots, PVC pipes, etc.
6. Add small expendable fish such as rosy red minnows to satiate the raccoon.
7. Feed the raccoon. Many people are against feeding wildlife because it is said to attract them and make them tame. Our raccoon runs if it sees us and was already around. Since we have been putting out leftovers, the raccoon has not bothered with my ponds. A fat and happy raccoon does not need to fish (but apparently he/she still needs to knock down all the bird feeders!). [Update 9/04 - the raccoons do run around the marginal area of my pond and knock things over, getting into trouble. While some large goldfish have been found dead this month, they show no signs of predation and look normal except for being dead. Update 8/07: The raccoons have dumped at least one goldfish next to the pond which survived when put back in. They often dump snails out to dessicate.]
8. Find some really hot chili peppers. Coat them in peanut butter. Lay them around the pond. Raccoons and perhaps other animals may bite into them and decide that eating around your pond is nasty!
9. Fence in the pond. Traditional fences can be used or electric ones.
10. As a last resort, a nuisance raccoon can be trapped and moved.

These items may help to deter raccoons. They are from left to right: a "deer scarer" (it makes noise every minute or so, not much of a deterrent), spray away (squirts water when it senses movement; raccoons might like that!), koi kastle (basically an expensive fish hiding place; you can make a cheap one with milk crates or PVC pipe), and an electric fence for that ultimate protection.

Skunks are similar in their habits to raccoons so see above for methods to deter them. The one big difference of course is that they can spray stinky fluids. If a skunk was the one rooting in the pond, its smell should linger in the morning. Skunks can be trapped but it is necessary to be very careful to avoid scaring the animal into spraying. Covering the trap with a towel helps keep the skunk calm. Be prepared for spraying. While I see dead skunks near our home along the road and smell that live skunks have visited the pond, I have never seen a live skunk except in the zoo.

I talk about a skunk that dug up a yellow jacket nest by my pond in my October 2007 pond newsletter.

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