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

A sorry squirrel tale....

GrannybeeGrannybee Posts: 332
in Problem solving
I emptied a water butt into the pond and yes it was a bit pongy. When it got to the bottom, I couldn't fail to notice a very soggy, smelly body of a dead squirrel. 
The water in the pond is rather smelly too now. Will it be ok? There are newts and frogs in there as well as other stuff that I don't know the names of.  I hope someone out there knows if I should do something or just leave nature to take its course.

Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I doubt whether your squirrel will affect your pond water.  The water in the butt will have been a bit smelly as presumably the butt had a lid on and the gases from decomposition couldn't escape.  Having said that, if a lid was in place how did the Squirrel get in ?
    Depending on the volume of water already in the pond, it is open to the air so even if it smells a bit now, it should dissipate.
    As long as you have no reason to be concerned about how the Squirrel died ( your local wildlife trust should be able to advise ), then bury it somewhere and keep an eye on your pond creatures.
    Others may have advice  :)
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I agree with @phillippasmith2.
    It's all part of nature and she rarely does anything wrong. It will just rot away in the water. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Your pond will be fine .RIP mr squirrel 
  • GrannybeeGrannybee Posts: 332
    The lid is very tightly fitted and I can only think the squirrel got in through the hole for the drainpipe! It must have been very bendy to do that. The pond is open to the air and now covered in snow! 
    Thanks for your comments. No panic required! 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I could use a water butt and approach system like that for my tree-rats
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • GrannybeeGrannybee Posts: 332
    😂😂
Sign In or Register to comment.