Forum home› Wildlife gardening
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Any idea what this is?

JulieH3JulieH3 Posts: 85
in Wildlife gardening
 I'm asking about the long black thing, it's in the pond and usually just crawls all over the stone but is now swimming. 

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    That’s a Leech.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • JulieH3JulieH3 Posts: 85
    Thanks Lyn. I did think they reminded me of leeches but didn't realise we got them in this country.  Disgusting but I'm assuming if I'm letting it be for wildlife I should just leave them be (and maybe keep my hands away)
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    The bloodsucking types apparently favour Kent.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Fire said:
    The bloodsucking types apparently favour Kent.
    some of them holiday in Devon. ;)
    Devon.
  • JulieH3JulieH3 Posts: 85
    I'm hoping not to find out if they survive in Manchester.  It's wet enough outside of the pond though 
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    They're too small to do humans any harm.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Very good for bruised noses and cauliflower ears😀
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2018
    As children we used to dangle our legs in the water of a particular pond to try to catch them ... they're fascinating creatures, totally harmless and an important part of your pond's ecosystem. 
    Enjoy your pond watching  :D

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JulieH3JulieH3 Posts: 85
    Thanks everyone.  I'll try to treasure them. I used to splodge in a local river as a child and they were probably there too,  guess they didn't did me any harm then. 
Sign In or Register to comment.