Heron |
Racoon
| Cat
|
Red Fox
| Coyote | Weasel |
Kingfisher | Otter |
Bear | Snake |
Eagle | Osprey
Koi's Top 12 Predators in North America
The
Great Blue Heron (Ardea
herodias)
Body
Description:
White head, black
side stripes extend to neck, yellow eyes, grey-blue back,
white breast with black streaks; thin long limbs, walks erect.
Habitat:
Marine coastal, calm
freshwaters, nests on islands or in wooded swamps.
Signs Of
Presence:
Missing or
wounded fish, scared fish in hiding, loud screech, announces arrival.
Behavior
Patterns:
Nests
in colonies, sometimes alone; elaborate physical displays, waits motionless
to catch
prey, thrusts head, neck into water for fish; primarily feeds on fish; follow
eachother to foraging spots but
solitary fishers.
Methods
Of
Deterrence:
Back To Top
The
Raccoon (Procyon
lotor)
Body Description:
10 to 30 pounds,
males larger than females; short, stocky body, broad head, short
pointed ears and snout, black mask across eyes against white face, thick
grey to brown fur, black
rings on bushy tail.
Habitat: prefer wooded areas near streams,
ponds, and marshes; highly adaptable to
developed areas.
Signs Of
Presence:
torn plants, upset pots, partially eaten fish, damaged pond liner,
rocks in pond, scared fish.
Behavior
Patterns:
primarily nocturnal, not social but will travel in pairs or families; omnivorus,
opportunistic eater, including fish; non-swimmers, excellnt climbers; semi-
hibernates in winter except during warm spells.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back
To Top
The
Houses Cat (Felis Catus)
Body
Description:
Size varies from 6 to 16 ponds, male larger than females; rounded heads,
short
muzzles, large eyes, erect pointed ears, diverse coat length and color.
Habitat:
fields, suburbs,
cities, anywhere humans live.
Signs Of
Presence:
partially eaten fish; torn pond liner, disturbed plants fecal matter, urine
smell,
scared fish.
Behavior
Patterns:
solitary, carnivorous, excellent hunters, often kill for sport, stalk victims
silently
adept climbers and jumpers.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back
To Top
The
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Body Description:
8 to
15 pounds, males slightly larger; long pointed ears,
elongated snout, orange-red coat, white underside; other color phases includes
silver, bluish gray, black feet, bushy white-tipped tail.
Habitat: forest and brush to open field,
prefer open fringes between, also
suburbs, urban areas; use multiple dens, return to same den several years.
Signs Of
Presence:
tracks show claws; partially burried food in grass, soil, leaves,
scent of urine marking.
Behavior
Patterns:
not strictly nocturnal, may appear in daytime, usually hunts at night; commonly
lives close to humans, seldom aggressive, preys on domestic animals, as well
as fish; climbs small fenses.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back
To Top
The
Coyote (Canis latrans)
Body
Description:
20 to 40 pounds, males larger than females; slender build, wide pointed ears,
long tapered snout, yellow eyes, color variations of gray, tan, rust or charcoal,
cream or white,
underside, uncurled bushy tail.
Habitat: open fields, brush country, favor
wetlands fringes; dens on exposed hilltops or ridges
found in country, suburbs, some urban areas,
Signs Of
Presence:
Marks territory with urine and repeated scat, scratches around scat to spread
odor;
rocks in pond, disturbed plants.
Behavior
Patterns:
Opportunistic feeders of small mammals, birds, insects, fruit active at night
but seen
in daylight; forms social units of adult pairs and offspring; travels to
find new territories; vocalize to help
locate others; fast runers, strong swimmers.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back To Top
The
Short-tailed Weasel (Mustela ermine)
Body
Description:
Small slender body and neck, short legs, small reounded ears, brown with
white underside, white winter coat, black-tipped tail.
Habitat: forests, brush, open country;
nests in rodent burrows, tree stumps, rock outcroppings or under old
buildings.
Signs Of
Presence:
oval-shaped footprint shows four toes; may shriek when attacking;marks territory
with scent glands' torn plants, damaged pond liner, rocks in pond, scared
fish.
Behavior
Patterns:
Carnivorous, eats small rodents and fish; solitary except when breeding;
nocturnal but hunts day and night, may kill more than eats; terrestrial but
climbs trees; fearless hunters, may attack humans if fod threatened.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back To
Top
The
Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)
Body
Description:
tiny legs, short tail, large bill and blue gray head with shaggy crest, white
collar and underside, females more colorful than males eith chestnut band
across belly.
Habitat: burrows in sandy soil, gravel
or soil at roots of fallen trees; remains over winter in summer range if
open water available.
Signs Of
Presence:
announces presence with screeching, returns same time each day; fish missing,
fish parts near favorite perchs, scared fish.
Behavior
Patterns:
small fish eaters, primarily threat to goldfish; sits on perch near water
watching prey; dives vertically into water.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back To
Top
The
River Otter (Lutra canadensis)
Body
Description:
10 to 25 pounds; long slender body, flat head, nose diamond shaped; nose
and ears have skin valve to keep out water; short legs with webbed hind feet;
thick glossy brown coat.
Habitat: wooded rivers and streams, salt
andfresh water marshes, lakes, ponds; dens underground near water or tree
hollows; travels someon land.
Signs Of
Presence:
disturbed plant life, rocks in pond, muddy paw prints, discarded fish fins,
damagd pondliner, scared fish.
Behavior
Patterns:
carnivorous, social, play in groups, active at night, year round; expert
swimmers and divers; eat fish, more likely goldfish than koi.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back To
Top
The
Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Body
Description:
110 to 440 pounds, males larger, tan muzzle, stocky bodies, short thick legs,
glossy black or brown-black coats (brown or cinnamon shades in west Northern
America), short tail.
Habitat: mixed forest, streams, or swamps
with thick vegitation.
Signs Of
Presence:
five-toed, large clawed paw prints; trampled plants, overturned pots or garbage
cans; rocks knowcked into ponds.
Behavior
Patterns:
omnivrous, opportunistic feeders, shy, solitary except when breeding; night
traveler, sometimes active in daylight; agile climbers, strong swimmer; keen
sense of smell.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back To Top
The
Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)
Body
Description:
adults brown or black with dark cross-bands' reddish or black crescent-shaped
marks on bely against light background; often covered with mud; thick body,
2 to 4 feet long, females larger.
Habitat: found with related species, in
38 states; always near water source like freshwater lakes, ponds, streams,
rivers, wetlands; prefer open areas, still waters, bask on warm rocks or
brush near water; hibernate in rock crevices, burrows.
Signs Of
Presence:
missing fish,those remaining are frightened and hiding; disturbed plants
around edge of pond; fecal matter, musky smell.
Behavior
Patterns:
carnivorous scavengers; swim near surface of water preying on fish, other
aquatic animals, insects; hang by tail from tree branch or vines into water
or hunt among plants near water's edge; active day and night; social fall
and spring near hibernation time, otherwise solitary; non-venomous but agressive;
spray mussk, defecate, strike and bite when provoked.
Note* keep
dstance, allow to escape; always seek immediate medical care for all snake
bites.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back To Top
The
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus ieucocephalus)
Body
Description:
large diurnal bird of prey; adults have white head, tail;yellow, hooked bill,
curved talons; broad rounded wings.
Habitat: seacoast, open rivers, lakes,
builds large nests in tall trees, cliffs; Canada, Alaska, ranges throughout
United States; doesn't migrate where ater remains open.
Signs Of
Presence:
missing fish, hovers high in air, screeching call; regurgitated food pellets;
scared fish.
Behavior
Patterns:
solitary, mates for life; keen eyesight; eat fish, small mammals, able to
swim, fishes close to water's surface, pluckingprey with
talons.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back To Top
The
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Body
Description:
long, narrow diurnal wings; dark brown with hite underside, females have
dark streaked upper chest; white head, dark eye band; hooked bill, curved
talons.
Habitat: comon in coastal ranges, fewer
seen inland; nests near salt or fresh water; conservation has increased
numbers.
Signs Of
Presence:
missing fish, announces presences with high pitched whistle; regurgitated
food pellets; scared fish.
Behavior
Patterns:
eats primarily fish; hovers over water, plunges feet first to grab prey;
builds bulky nests in trees, poles, docks, abandoned
buildings.
Methods Of
Deterrence:
Back To Top
|
