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Reprinted with permission from the Eastern Iowa Pond Society newsletter
Rick Flagmen shared with us the tail of his disappearing Koi. It all started last October. The best and biggest Koi started disappearing out of the pond. Not just one or two but in groups of 5 and ten. It was happening in the evening on nights when they were not home. Nothing was disturbed. The fish were just gone. At first Rick and Marty thought raccoon. But there were no pieces, no debris, no knocked ever plants. Not the usual work of Raccoons. Next they thought, People. Someone is STEALING our Koi. That easily explained the loss of "The Best". And the clean get away. This really made Rick and Marty mad, how could some one steal our Koi.
So they decided to set a trap and wait. They would act like they were leaving, move the cars, turn off the lights, but they would stay home and watch. They would catch the thief. It was Marty who spotted him. Not a human, but not any critter she had ever seen before. Unfortunately her calling to Rick scared it away before Rick could see it. And her description was pretty vague.
They decided to get the DNR in on the investigation. They came out and looked around. Then asked, "Is there a creek near here?" Sure there was, just across this little piece of field. So they took off across the field and before they reached the creek they discovered the ground covered with beautiful, shimmering fish scales. Lots and lots of them. And all sorts of critter tracks.
DNR assessed the situation and figured a MINK was the thief. His were the only tracks that lead toward the pond. And they are swimmers and quick enough to catch the fish without making a mess of the place. But this was a very generous mink in that it looked as though all sorts of other critters participated in the Koi banquet. And they all left their tracks. The biggest and best Koi were the first to go because they are the Koi that would also catch the eye of the Mink, large and shinny. The Minks favorite.
So it wasn't the next door neighbors who were making off with the Koi. Just the ones who live by the creek. And now you will hear Rick ask whenever someone has Koi missing, "Is there a creek near by?"