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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Dead mouse in biofalls box!

15 years ago

I went outside to check on my pond now that the ice has melted a bit (next freeze is already literally blowing in..)

As I looked into the waterfall box to see how much water & ice accumulated, I saw a poor dead mouse (quite large actually) floating in the water. The box is quite deep when empty, so I guess the mouse had no chance of escaping once it fell in.

I removed the mouse and buried it in my flower garden.

I put a piece of driftwood into the box (looks like a 3' bent log) so that if anything ever falls in, they have a way to escape. If there's little furry critters running around at night, I'd rather have them gone by morning, then still there but drowned in my waterfall box.

By leaving the driftwood in the box, could it possibly damage the box??

Winter has barely started, so I'm sure that over the next few weeks, the box will eventually get filled with snow and freezing rain, and be frozen solid right up to the top. Have a log in there, could that shift and damage the box sides?

I need to decide ASAP, as that water is going to freeze up really quick, and I' wont' be able to remove the log..

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Comments (7)

horton
15 years ago
A piece of styrofoam might suit the purpose better, it will not damage the sides of the box.
"Horton"
groundbeef1
15 years ago
Remeber, all God's creatures enjoy a drink. (Some prefer Tequila or Vodka, but that's a different thread).

I get all sorts of critters in the winter drinking out of the pond, as it is one of the few sources of open water. My bubbler has been working pretty good. Got down to 5F last night, but there is a decent sized hole in the ice. I'd say 95% of the pond is frozen over.
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sleeplessinftwayne
15 years ago
Yuck. What a nasty surprise. He was either looking for a bolt hole or a drink. It is hard too prevent all accidents but I try to leave something draped over the side that things can grab onto. I would use foam. Drift wood could cause a leak if it keeps bumping the same spot. Sandy
maryo_nh
15 years ago
I had the same thing happen overnight in my two lotus tubs. The lotuses never took, so we had WH floating (and beautifully blooming) in it. Then winter arrived early and they froze, and the day after I removed the dead WH's, a poor dead mouse in each.
So I pruned a few branchlets off the Rose of Sharon and stuck those in so the little furry ones can climb out. No drowning victims since, and the branches are lightweight.

:) Mary
jcjcjcx
Original Author
15 years ago
Darn.. I should have thought about that... foam or even just a small branch (and I did have some lying around).

Now I've got this big piece of driftwood frozen in there..
I don't want to try to force it out and damage the box... If it warms up again, I'll be sure to take it out, but if it doesn't, it staying... I'm not about to stand out there with a hair dryer....

I've attached a photo from yesterday. However, last night we got 4-5 inches of snow... The log looks like its at the edge but its really frozen down in the ice at least 6" inches.
{{gwi:237703}}

{{gwi:237705}}
annedickinson
15 years ago
That's a great, natural looking waterfall
Anne
sleeplessinftwayne
15 years ago
Absolutely lovely. Sandy

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