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Update on the Pond: What Killed the Fish & A New Problem Now

I walked out behind my home this Sunday to find over 100 Buzzards behind my back yard with over 120 dead fish floating in the pond behind my house or scattered along the bank. See Blog All of the Fish in the pond Appear to Have Died Overnight! What the?

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has concluded that the fish in the Woodcreek Subdivision died due to lack of oxygen. My understanding is that this was because: we had a long period with no rain, then lots of rain overnight, with not a lot of natural vegetation in the pond, and a fountain that had recently broken. Apparently, once the amount of oxygen decreases in a tank, it can kill the fish overnight. Now we have tons of algae in the tank and the whole thing looks nasty and green.

This brings me to my latest problem. I hand raised approximately 14 ducks and 2 geese last spring and then released them into the lake. At this point, the lake is clearly less than desirable and the ducks have moved into my back yard.

My two and four year old think it is Easter with the eggs in my back yard! The Tree Walker coon hound See Meet Snoofy: A College Station Animal Rescue in Need of a Loving Home is definitely NOT a hunter and is no help at all!

And it has become such an issue in the last 2 days to get water, they are even brave enough to reside on the back porch and drink out of the dog bowl! They don't go to the South Lake, which is beautiful and in working order because another flock lives there. I am worried they are going to distroy my back porch and kill the grass. Any suggestions would be most appreciated! ;D

Posted by Raylene Lewis on 08/19/2008 05:32 PM

Comments (8)

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8 Comments on Update on the Pond: What Killed the Fish & A New Problem Now

AUG

How about one of those cheap plastic kiddie pools? Fill with water and place in woods, maybe behind some brush? Don't go by me. I'm like my Cousin Vinnie from New Jersey. Our idea of "wildlife" starts around six PM on a Friday night.

Ohh.. I like Andrew's idea. I have one of those, but thats because my dog plays in it. Having a kiddie pool is a great idea!

Raylene- I suggest trying the kiddy pool Andrew suggested, and whenever you can if they are in your yard shooing them out towards the ponds. ie. run around like a goofball waving a bright colored broom around... video required :-D lol

As far as the eggs go, try moving them down near the pond or some bushes where they can be safe and the momma's might go try hatching them :-D Also try not to touch the eggs alot as many animals will abandon their eggs/ youngins when they are touched by humans for some reason... maybe wear gloves or plastic bags to move them :-\

Andrew, John & Chris! - The yellow kiddy pool is a go! We'll see what happens! Good Idea from a guy who lives with no wildlife around! HEE HEE! We also decided to start feeding them and are putting food outside the fence.

Chris, I'm not sure I can go goofy just yet...but if the pool doesn't work, that will be my next move! I have been watching the eggs and no one is sitting, plus it is late in the year, so if they still appear abandoned tomorrow, they are going to be moved to outside the fence as well.

Thanks for the advice!

One More Note: checked on the pond this afternoon and the algae is starting to dissipate. The pond is beginning to look a lot better, so I am hopeful on that note. The fountain is still broken though :(

Raylene if you get the kiddy pool and start running around waving a broom give me a little notice so I can bring the camera. We'd all love to see it posted on ActiveRain!

I want to see pics and a blog on you with the kiddy pool and waving the broom! Ha-ha

AUG

Raylene, you are my kind of girl. I have a pond that turned over a few years back and all my fishes died. I hand raised Mallard ducks to go into said pond. Your story sounds like my story.

Your grass will grow back. Go get one of those cheap hard plastic child swimming pools. Fill it with water and place a board secured at the bottom for them to easily get in and out. I found I would only have to drop the hose into the pool to run fresh water to keep it clean enough.

Have them get that fountain fixed! Fast! Nothing will take a pond down faster than lack of oxygen. Now, I've probably not been much help but I assure you I lived the same story. My ducks use to sit on my porch and tap at the windows with their beaks trying to get my attention.

Good luck to you and let us know how it goes. Just love your ducks...you are the momma.

Later in the rain~Deb

Sounds like all the duck/goose droppings added a lot of "fertilizer" to your and the recent rain added some oxygen to get the algae going. I agree with Deb, get the fountain fixed ASAP to get the oxygen back into the pond and possibly a bubbler as well.

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