Hi Quibbloid,
It looks as tyhough no koi keepers were around when your friend posted the message about your koi with cuts.
Did it heal and survive?
It sounds to me like heron damage.

Dampflippers, I was just checking to see if another U.K. poster, who had posted to the N.American forum, had re-posted their question to this forum, where I suggested they may receive some ["local"] assistance.
It looks like they have not bothered or have not got around to it yet!!??.

I see you are about the only one of the old gang, that is hanging in here nowadays.
It is a pity that the postings have dropped off, on the U.K forum, over the last couple of years. I always enjoyed lurking around here and reading the threads. There was a slightly different approach to ponds and their upkeep in these threads, than thoes of the N.American forum. Plus that good old British humour came through quite often in the questions and replies.
I hope the traffic picks up again and some of the old posters return to share their experience, knowledge and wit.
Any idea on what became of "Scotty" [Sue] from Derbyshire?
Take care,
"Horton"
Canada.

Hi Horton,

I can only agree with you, there doesn't seem to be much traffic here in the UK. I mistakenly stumbled into the US forum asking questions and the response was immediate, warm & friendly. I then thought I should go to the UK forum as frankly the problem you folks have with racoons horrified me & I was getting nightmares, here was me thinking they were cute & cuddley! I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I had a pond over there.

However I only ever had one response to my question, I might just have to come back to the US & ignore the racoons.

Riverdown

Riverdown, raccoons are only one of the creatures you could meet up with in your back [or front] yard I N.America, depending on what particular area a person lives in.

You could be visited by or run into, coyotes,wolves, poisonous snakes, ants with wicked bites, cane/marine toads [as big as cats] cougars/pumas, wolverines, moose, deer, elk, fox, alligators, bears, etc, etc. LOL
Not all are aggressive, but is as well to stay clear of them, just based on their size and demeanor!

Usually you don't see or hear from most of those creatures, they avoid human contact, but the raccoon has made it's self at home, both in the country side and within all of the cities and towns, of the USA and Canada.

They are extremely adaptable, clever creatures. They have the ability to work out how a "raccoon proof" garbage can lid lock, is easily removed, so that the steak or chicken bone dinner inside, may be obtained for the family.
Very clever indeed. Another down side, as I mentioned before is, they are carriers of rabies and that is a good reason, to stay well away from the "cute little buggers".
I have included a link that may interest you.

Take care,
"Horton"

Here is a link that might be useful: Raccoons.

I'm sad at the loss of the old gang on this site, too. I mentioned quite some time ago about another site that appeared to have 'hijacked' a lot of the old names. (No offence intended, as I said then, you know who you are!!) I wish they would keep coming here, too.

Personally, I really like the way this site works, which is different to the other one. I find this really user-friendly and I only wish I had more knowledge to impart to newcomers who are seeking help and wanting to become a part of a pond community.
Big Kid