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Repairs, Maintenance, Pest and Disease ControlPond MaintenanceHow to Cure Murky WaterPest and Disease ControlPest and Disease Control2>Other garden pond pestsOTHER ENEMIES Pools near a house or larger natural ponds some distance away are seldom bothered by animal pests. Under unusual circumstances, however, any of the following could conceivably become plentiful enough to be a nuisance. There are quick and simple remedies for all of them. CRAWFISH . They cut off young leaves and sometimes small buds. They are no trouble in the back-yard pool, for they can easily be removed whenever the pool is drained for cleaning. It is seldom that an annoying number of adults find their way into a concrete pool anyway. And they are not much trouble in an open, natural pond, for these are usually stocked with enough game or large goldfish to gobble up each new brood of crawfish babies.
MUSKRATS . These have an expensive taste for lotus and water-lily rootstocks. If there are enough muskrats to cause real trouble, perhaps you can interest a young man in your neighborhood in making himself some money by trapping them. Their runs are easy to spot, and they are not hard to trap. If there is only one muskrat, or possibly two or three, you might get a grim enjoyment out of potting them yourself with a rifle.
RATS AND MICE . If you have any of these in your house, they will discover your water-lily roots and eat them. Store roots either out of reach or in ventilated metal containers.
SNAILS . These are not much trouble in a natural pond, since sunfish and goldfish feed on them. In a small pool, the snails you dropped in to serve as scavengers may reproduce to such an extent as to become unsightly. Then they are easily removed. At night put a section of cabbage or lettuce, perhaps half a head, tied to a floating piece of board, in the center of the pool. Next morning it will be covered with snails. Destroy them. Repeat the process until the snail population is reduced enough to suit you.Snails sold as pool scavengers do not feed on aquatic foliage. However, your pool may attract the large, black-shelled variety which does eat leaves and blooms. They are easily differentiated from the others and can be attracted by the cabbage lure and destroyed accordingly. SNAPPING TURTLES . These are a problem only in the natural pond and a real headache until you get rid of them. The snapping turtle feeds on young leaves and flowers, and if you get a really hungry one, he will snap off water-lily buds as fast as they form. Set a few hooks for him, baited with spoiled meat. Or, once again, you may enjoy oiling up the rifle and settling with him in person. None of the other turtles will give you trouble. |
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