Other Pond Problems
Indiana pond owners are likely to encounter several other problems that will require attention such as: turtles, muskrats, fish parasites and disease organisms.
Turtles
Turtles are one of the first inhabitants to appear in new ponds. Quite often, their first sighting is viewed with alarm by the pond owner who sees turtles as a threat to good fishing. However, most turtles are vegetarians and pose no threats to fish. In fact, turtles are beneficial in ponds as scavengers.
Occasionally the common snapping turtle can become a nuisance. The "snapper" feeds on fish and can eat small ducklings. It has extremely strong jaw and neck muscles and an ability to quickly lash out at its prey.
Snapping turtles can be caught in traps. Wire funnel traps, set partially in the water at the pond's edge and baited with fresh meat, are effective if the pond owner does not want to harm the turtle. Coil-spring traps are effective when mounted to a wooden board and floated upside-down. Position the trap over two feet of water and anchor them to the bank. As with the other method, bait should consist of fresh meat.
Turtles can also be caught on baited hooks or caught by hand during early ice-cover. Turtles can often be spotted in shallow water before snow covers the ice. By simply chopping a hole through the ice, you can reach down and grab them by the tail. Because of the cold temperature, they are very lethargic. Be sure the ice is safe and be sure you grab them by the tail.
Muskrats
Muskrats build dens in burrows along steep banks of a pond. Entrances are usually 6-18 inches below the water line with burrows penetrating into the bank up to 10 feet. Where muskrats become abundant, they can cause damage to the pond's banks and dam.
Properly constructed ponds usually discourage muskrats from digging into the banks. The dam should have a minimum slope of 3:1 on the water side, be above the water level by three feet, and be at least 20 feet wide at the water level.
There are several ways to control muskrats. The first is simply eliminating starchy water plants, such as cattails, bulrushes and arrowhead. These are favorite foods of muskrats. Muskrats can also be trapped or repelled by chemicals.
Trapping is the most effective and economical way to control muskrats. If possible, trapping should be done during the legal trapping season. Selling muskrat pelts can earn the pond owner extra income and quickly pay for the traps.
If you have a muskrat problem and need to take the animal(s) out of season, Indiana Fish and Wildlife Administrative Rules allow the resident landowner or tenant to take a muskrat at any time, without a permit, if the animal is damaging property when discovered. A landowner or tenant must report the taking to the Division Director or to a Conservation Officer within seventy-two (72) hours of the taking.
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