I Failed My Fish

[D&RW]

actually I did get in the pond and sort of sneak around the perimeter at head height. got pretty wet. :lol:

we moved the Scarecrow to directly opposite the pond. Better angle we think. i'm going in late to work tomorrow so I can see if the heron comes back like it did today.

say, how's that pond comin'? I'll have to go check out your thread.

 

[D&RW]

I was going to handle these but @ $130 each I didn't think I would sell to many.

do you know how to find them DoDad. I might buy one from ya if this Scarecrow fails me.

 

[D&RW]

OK. I saw the Scarecrow in action and it worked. Wife had seen the heron the day before so I waited in the kitchen. Wow. That big bird just dropped out of the sky onto a rock by the waterfall. Man it looked prehistoric, like some kind of dinosaur. After it landed, it froze for a few seconds. No spray from the scarecrow. Then the bird starting creeping toward the pond and BAM, off went the sprinkler. Freaked the bird who jumped up into the air and banked off to the east. Yay!!!

Watched for it today too, but no sign of it. Wife and I discussed it. Bird'll probably come back a few times, but hopefully will get tired of getting surprised and sprayed.

 

[butterflycld]

I wish that scarecrow would work on snakes. Thankfully I don't have to worry about birds or raccoons. I live way in the country, but with four dogs (2 big, 2 small) not too many things want to come into my yard. But snakes are a different story. The first time I saw a snake, I got my net and was trying to get it out of the pond. I lost sight of it and the next thing I knew it popped up right in front of me with my biggest goldfish in it's mouth! I was so upset. I understand how all of you feel when you lose a fish. I just wish there was an easy fix for the snakes like you all have come up with for the birds.

 

[D&RW]

I wish that scarecrow would work on snakes. Thankfully I don't have to worry about birds or raccoons. I live way in the country, but with four dogs (2 big, 2 small) not too many things want to come into my yard. But snakes are a different story. The first time I saw a snake, I got my net and was trying to get it out of the pond. I lost sight of it and the next thing I knew it popped up right in front of me with my biggest goldfish in it's mouth! I was so upset. I understand how all of you feel when you lose a fish. I just wish there was an easy fix for the snakes like you all have come up with for the birds.

What part of Texas? And what kind of snake. If it's a water moccasin be careful--they are pretty aggressive and poisonous.

Wow. Ate one of your fish. That's amazing. Sorry for you loss too. I know the feeling. You feel really vulnerable. How about a kitty?

 

[butterflycld]

D&RW
They were just water snakes, not poisonous. They ended up getting about 5 of my fish. I live in South Texas. We are in the country and have a few cats of our own and a few strays that show up. They could really care less about the snakes. But my dog takes care of them now. She finds it fun to get the snakes. I only let her get the ones that are not poisonous, so far that is all that has been around. But since my dog has been hunting them, I haven't seen any in about a year.

 

[DrDave]

I'm curious to know how you have to ability to let a dog only attack non poisonous snakes. Do you keep him on lease and examine the snakes first before you let him go?
:smile:

 

[D&RW]

no, i'll bet what butterflycld does is keep an eye out for what kind of snakes are coming around. When I was in texas it seemed to come in cycles for some reason. we lived in the country too and for awhile we saw a number of copperheads. Then none. Then it was rattlers, saw a couple of them. then none.

dogs are very vulnerable to these poisonous snakes and usually get bitten on the snout. a friends dog got bit and his snout swelled up to enormous size, but the vet gave him some antivenom and it was ok. untreated it can easily kill a good sized dog, but often even untreated it doesn't. don't know why.

still, i'm thinkin if butterflycld did see a moccasin or one of the others before her dog, the dog would get leashed until the snake was carried off or dispatched.