Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:52 am
The only predators I have around here are coons and possums. But with a 120lb shephard guarding the yard at night they aren't much of a prob anymore (along with hubby and a neighbor with guns who would rather see them gone).
Herons and Cranes tend to fly over but have never landed in my yard. They prefer the lakes around me (end of street and behind the house).
I have never encountered any problems with losing any fish, snails, frogs, toads, or turts.
When the nighttime temps drop here to around 60 degrees, the turts come inside for the winter. They live in a 100 gallon tank (which they hate for the first few weeks then give up fighting it).
In the spring when the water temps warm back up to 50+ and the fish awaken then I slowly introduce the turts back outside. A few mins a day till about June and then they are out till about October or so.
Right now my 2 little ponds are frozen...the frogs are all hibernating, the fish are slowly settling in at the bottom of the ponds and soon the big pond will freeze as well.
With a depth of 6ft, I hardly have to worry about anything getting my fish, turts. The sides are straight down thus preventing the wildlife from just walking in to eat the pond life. (sloped walls are a great access for wildlife to come and perch). I have a small rock wall around the ponds extending out from the stepping stones and the turts hardly ever go past that point. Why leave a good thing? Free food, all the Hyacinths they can eat, tons of water, rocks to baske on...this is the life for them..lol (now you see why they hate coming into the house for the winter?)
Holly