Reason I ask, some friends have just lost a huge mirror carp from their water garden

They had it for over 15 years and it was massive, like 30lbs I reckon.

The day before it went they noticed some scratches on it's side but didn't think too much of it.

The next day all that was left of her were some scales on the bottom of the pond. Some more scales and an **** fin that had been torn out were later found under a hedge nearby.

Some neighbours of theirs said they had seen an Otter in their garden around the time.

Now I thought I knew how big Otters got, and they are muscley little blighters, but FFS! This was a big fish!! I am having a hard time believing one of them could have helped itself

I reckon my Chocolate Lab would have had agro picking that up!

The other thing is the pond has completely sheer sides and the water level was about a foot below the paving.

There were plenty of much more valuable fish around so everyone is sure she wasn't stolen.

Whaddayareckon? Was it an Otter? Do they hunt in packs? Do we have a beast of Pembrokeshire on the loose?

[Edited by Mufasa - 4/26/2002 7:01:24 AM]

 

UK otters are quite small(about the size of a labrador dog), Other otters can grow to around 20Kg. One monster otter in the US was sized at 50Kg and 5-6 Feet in length.

Are you sure it was an otter and not a fox

 

Could have been a Mink? A few weeks ago I stopped by River Arun in Sussex and thought I saw an otter on riverbank. Blackish and about two foot plus long. Discussion in pub was that it was Mink not Otter. I should think this quite capable of hauling out poor old carp. David (pond keeper!)

[Edited by David Lock - 4/26/2002 9:57:18 AM]

 

U sure it was an otter? In UK, otters very rare in England & Wales, mostly seen in Scotland.

UK otters about 1 to 1.5 meters long, 7 to 10 kilos.

They are strong, though, and will easily take a salmon or saltwater trout, so a big carp would be on the cards.

U sure it was an otter?

Unlikely to be a fox.

 

A bear perhaps ?

 

30lbs is one BIG fish... whatever it was leave it alone would be my advice

 

panther?

 

Depending where you are in Pembrokeshire, there are otters about. If you're near the border with Ceredigion or down near Cenarth then these are renowned otter spots. There may also be some around the tidal reaches of the Cleddau rivers.

West Wales Wildlife Trust could probably tell you more (Tel: 01239 621212).

 

A shark?

I guess you'd probably spot that afterwards eh?

How about a Gruffalo?

 

it could have been one of those gnomes with the fishing rod maybe.

or perhaps Dom Jolly is d1cking about around your mates house

 

It migth of been a very rare Hippocrocapig.

Daz.

 

sorry but **** fin heheheh

 

Hello Please

Perhaps it was a FAT BADGER with a hunger for FAT FISH. You don't know it might be. Yes thats right a FAT BADGER.

 

Thanks for the replies, well most of 'em
I'm from very near Tenby.
I'd put money on it not being a Mink, vicious but definitely too small. Never heard of a Fox diving for fish before. Pond is at least 4 feet deep, and the surface of the water was a foot below the paving, with sheers sides. The fish could have easily stayed out of range. Whatever it was, was either in the water with it, or had long enough legs to grab hold of it from the edge.

Dunno what it was, probably never will

 

Pirahnas?

 

"had long enough legs to grab hold of it from the edge."
A carniverous giraffe?

 

Fat badger?, surely you mean a fat beaver...

 

A beaver big enough to take a 30lb fish.
Bet it smells bad enough without the carp.

 

Mufasa,
Ive worked around the New Hedges area in recent times. Now, I dont know if badgers are likely to pinch fish but there are quite a few protected setts in the area. when I was working there we were advised by local MAFF officers to stay away from them due to them being nasty bast*rds.

Chip.

 

Got to be a cat with a speargun mate. Won't worry about the sides of the pond. Either that or i's one of those Carpjacking gangs we hear about!!!
Alasdair

 

Any idea yet?

 

maybe from here<.......................................... .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ....................................>to here

 

A pelican?Down in one.

 

just found a dead one in our Loo !


Sorry, wasnt a dead Otter, oops

Feel Silly now

 

They have now found it's backbone picked clean as a whistle
I think they're decided on it being a particularly hungry Otter

 

didn't they have some Coypus in the norfolk broads? A kind of cross between a rat and an otter and big too!!