We have had a small pond in our backyard for the last five or so years. It provides a nice water element and requisite fountain sound that adds ambiance to relaxing summer evenings. It adds a colorful element to our raised bed garden, with gorgeous goldfish (big ones) swimming lazily beneath the lily pads.
Life has been lovely for the pond, its inhabitants, and us, for years.
Until the predators decided that the pond was their own private buffet, and, one Fall, right before we put a mesh cover over the top of the pond to protect it for the winter, they struck.
The next morning we were outside, and noticed that the fountain had been tipped over, and that there were lily pads tossed out on the patio. And the fish food had been gnawed on, then also thrown across the flagstones. The worst part, though, is the fish were gone. All of them.
We were astonished, perplexed, saddened by the seemingly random barbarism.
Turns out, we have several predators in our neighborhood, including hawks (which we have seen efficiently and systematically eviscerate a pigeon in about an hour), coyotes, bobcats, and raccoons.
More research has pointed us in the direction of the raccoons. They are aggressive, territorial, and they like easy prey. Ponds are some of their favorite dining options, as it turns out.
So, we grieved for the poor goldfish that had met their end so suddenly to masked bandits.
The next Spring we repopulated the pond, and covered it from the get go with a metal cage, no longer willing to provide repast for the wily wandering raccoons.
All was well. Until it wasn't. Which was several weeks ago, when we discovered that not only had the raccoons hit again, they had done so in spite of the protective cage. This time they left one poor, traumatized fish. They came back though, a few nights later, and he disappeared too. I guess they wanted dessert.
Pond is gone. We can't tie any more goats to stakes, it's just wrong. The space where it was will be filled with wildflowers, and will serve as a goldfish memorial moving forward.
Nature, she's a force to be reckoned with, no?
Big hugs,
Stevie
Life has been lovely for the pond, its inhabitants, and us, for years.
Until the predators decided that the pond was their own private buffet, and, one Fall, right before we put a mesh cover over the top of the pond to protect it for the winter, they struck.
The next morning we were outside, and noticed that the fountain had been tipped over, and that there were lily pads tossed out on the patio. And the fish food had been gnawed on, then also thrown across the flagstones. The worst part, though, is the fish were gone. All of them.
We were astonished, perplexed, saddened by the seemingly random barbarism.
Turns out, we have several predators in our neighborhood, including hawks (which we have seen efficiently and systematically eviscerate a pigeon in about an hour), coyotes, bobcats, and raccoons.
More research has pointed us in the direction of the raccoons. They are aggressive, territorial, and they like easy prey. Ponds are some of their favorite dining options, as it turns out.
So, we grieved for the poor goldfish that had met their end so suddenly to masked bandits.
The next Spring we repopulated the pond, and covered it from the get go with a metal cage, no longer willing to provide repast for the wily wandering raccoons.
All was well. Until it wasn't. Which was several weeks ago, when we discovered that not only had the raccoons hit again, they had done so in spite of the protective cage. This time they left one poor, traumatized fish. They came back though, a few nights later, and he disappeared too. I guess they wanted dessert.
Pond is gone. We can't tie any more goats to stakes, it's just wrong. The space where it was will be filled with wildflowers, and will serve as a goldfish memorial moving forward.
Nature, she's a force to be reckoned with, no?
Big hugs,
Stevie
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