muscrat breech troubles

[Martha Gillier]

This morning when I looked out to the backyard pond I noticed the water all
murky like a lily pot had tipped over. Upon closer inspection I saw a
muskrat dart into the bioskimmer. To make a long story short my husband and
I were able to pull him out and dispose of the critter. Do they live in
colonies because I think there may be more (?)
When I got back from work this evening the water level was way down at least
a foot. We pulled up a few flag stones and there was a tunnel from under the
deck to the skimmer. The liner and felt underliner was shredded along the
side of the biofilter entering the pond and where the water flows into the
filter so this was one breech entry to the pond. The only thing is the water
level is below this spot. There must be another spot. Tomorrow morning will
possibly reveal more. The water is super murky and the fish are hiding ( 2
med koi, 3 Shubunkin and 4 goldfish). I am worried they will die with the
pump off. How long will they survive? I live in Ontario so we have 2 months
before freeze up for repairs. What kind of work and $ am I looking at? It is
a 2000gal terraced pond with large stones and a biofalls.
Any suggestions or encouragements would be appreciated
MMG

[Reel Mckoi]

"Martha Gillier" > wrote in message
...
> This morning when I looked out to the backyard pond I noticed the water
> all murky like a lily pot had tipped over. Upon closer inspection I saw a
> muskrat dart into the bioskimmer. To make a long story short my husband
> and I were able to pull him out and dispose of the critter. Do they live
> in colonies because I think there may be more (?)

## There are probably a few more. I had a friend in Nashville who had to
have her rubber liner removed, a metal liner installed and a new rubber
liner installed over that. The metal barrier went down 4'. The muskrats
had put so many holes in her 1st liner it wasn't worth reusing. It had
patches over patches. The metal barrier stopped them and they moved on.

> When I got back from work this evening the water level was way down at
> least a foot. We pulled up a few flag stones and there was a tunnel from
> under the deck to the skimmer. The liner and felt underliner was shredded
> along the side of the biofilter entering the pond and where the water
> flows into the filter so this was one breech entry to the pond.

## They will dig more.

The only thing is the water
> level is below this spot. There must be another spot. Tomorrow morning
> will possibly reveal more. The water is super murky and the fish are
> hiding ( 2 med koi, 3 Shubunkin and 4 goldfish). I am worried they will
> die with the pump off. How long will they survive?

## Can't you run it with the outlet not hooked to the filter so the water
is aerated?

I live in Ontario so we have 2 months
> before freeze up for repairs. What kind of work and $ am I looking at?

## The metal barrier was the only thing that worked for my friend. It was
expensive - but so were her koi.

It is
> a 2000gal terraced pond with large stones and a biofalls.
> Any suggestions or encouragements would be appreciated
> MMG
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/anti_troll_faq.htm

[Gary Woods]

"Martha Gillier" > wrote:

>. Do they live in
>colonies because I think there may be more (?)

If you kill one, a dozen will come to his funeral... muskrats are like
their land-based cousins: If you see one, there are (at least) several.
I have a biggish, though not for my area, earth pond, and the rats ate a
couple of lotus plants this summer. I'm learning trapping, since having it
done is usually incomplete and always costly.
(The promised rant will follow later today for sure).


Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G