We had no sooner gotten the new Tilapia pool set up and saved 300+ fish, when the next fiasco began.  After the large fish pool was all set, we set up the smaller pool to start growing duck weed again.  Duck weed is very high in protein and easy to grow.  It’s a treat for both fish and ducks. 

Set the small pool up, filled it with water,  and put in the duck weed.  Voila.   Everything looked great. Next morning the pool was completely empty and the pool bottom covered with duck weed and dirt!  There were dirty paw marks all over the edge of the big pool all around, several dead fish floating, and the feeder pool right next to the big pool was completely empty of a couple hundred fry!  Gone!

We soon found a tear in the side of the small pool, looked like a sharp claw had poked through.  Raccoon, we thought.  Out come the traps, set with bait, and now to wait overnight.  Next morning, the bait is gone, and the traps not sprung!  And the duck weed is gone!  

Obviously, raccoons, or whatever the predator, have mastered the science of traps.  And as for the duck weed, one look at the dirt green beaks of those ducks tells the story! Wonder if the raccoon and the ducks were in it together.

Happy Homesteading,

T.