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.

 

[plowhog]

Just sayin'. btw, nobody's 'death pond' will make a dent in goose populations any time soon.

That's not the only issue. I raised 90 catfish for 10+ years in the same pond to take them from fingerlings to 15-20lbs. Then, about 2 years ago, a river otter found my pond and wiped them all out in about 3 weeks. It would kill a catfish, pull it to the bank, take a bite or two, then go get another.

As far as I know, the otter is a past issue. So I didn't originally bring it up. Or maybe it is a current issue. Either way, I want to know what's going on. That is why I posted and asked for ideas.

If you prefer dead geese to live geese-- so be it. But that opinion doesn't help me understand what has changed with my pond, or why.

 

[/pine]

FWIW...
Here in the S.E. there has been a problem with salmonella killing birds...it is mostly being spread by Pine Siskins contaminating bird feeders and birdbaths...

I would report the dead goose to the county and or state and ask for advise...they may want to examine the remains of the goose...

 

[the old grind]

If you prefer dead geese to live geese-- so be it. But that opinion doesn't help me understand what has changed with my pond, or why.

No preference for geese being dead or alive, just not here. You could merely assume what's going on at yours if you're so talented at it. btw, never mind that we can't be there to help you figure it out beyond that.

 

[plowhog]

No preference for geese being dead or alive

Apologies. Came out different than what I intended. It's just my focus is not so much on the geese as what might be in the pond. I still have no idea what is going on but hope to learn.

 

[the old grind]

Have you noticed oddities with any other nearby wildlife? Are there game trails or areas of obvious activity (above and below the waterline) that you can easily set trail-cams on shore? My 15 YO IR ones would trigger on a bird flying by, if only catching turkeys, geese, deer, clearly while afoot. WIMI wouldn't take much if you get the aim good right away.

Missing squirrels & bunnies can mean there are coyote, fox, as a long-shot mink that might also attack geese when on land. If you see parents swimming with little ones IMO those dead or damaged would seem to have had individual causes vs being prey, and could be anomalies.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I can't comment about why the geese come some seasons and not others. We have the same thing; sometimes 2 pair, sometimes 20 pair with a few suitors looking for a mate.

We do add blue dye to our ponds just about every year to knock down the algae. No difference at all as to whether the geese come and stay, nor not. The dye doesn't effect the geese at all. In fact, I'm not real sure that the dye does a lot of anything. Grass carp helps reduce the grass and algae more than anything.

 

[plowhog]

Setting up trail cameras is an excellent idea. I will set those up tomorrow.

 

[oosik]

/pine has a good idea. If the dead goose carcass is still around - contact Fish & Wildlife and see if they will make an examination.

 

[Diggin It]

Have you noticed oddities with any other nearby wildlife? Are there game trails or areas of obvious activity (above and below the waterline)

See posts 11 and 28.

 

[the old grind]

I did. It ain't muskrats, and a lack of other game next door doesn't indicate why it happened.