Environmental - Biosecurity, Ecosystems, Predation, Pollutants
Bet you never thought this was possible - the Aussie scientists of CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Org) are actually considering introducing KHV as a means to control unwanted carp! And yes, that's the same species as our Koi! Read the full article by clicking on the title or picture...
Please help K.O.I. to spread the word – Koi should never be released into the wild! Nearly every Koi club in the country will help you deal with unwanted Koi. Please contact your local club and deal with unwanted Koi responsibly by re-homing them, or euthanizing them.
Here’s the list of top 100 invasive species: http://www.issg.org/worst100_species.html
Click on the picture or title to read what they say about the environmental impact of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)...
Koi and goldfish are now listed as invasive species in many states, and Maine does not allow Koi keeping AT ALL! Please read this article to learn more about the problem, by clicking on the picture or title.
In Connecticut, the deadliest creature is common White-Tailed Deer, cause people in cars are killed when they hit them. But worldwide - it's Mosquitos! Our ponds can be a haven for deadly mosquitos. Read the story (by clicking on the picture or title) to find out what you can do to eliminate mosquitos from your ponds and water features. Story submitted by Ralph Smith, aka 'Smitty' from Southwest Koi and Pond Association, El Paso, TX.
Not only are Carp an invasive species that destroy the ecosystem for native fish (and Koi should NEVER be released into the wild), but they also dominate other invasive species. Full text of this interesting study after the break...
Someone asked me the other day how to best deter predators from ponds. The primary predators are fish-eating birds like Herons. They wade in the water and kill anything that moves. They will actually kill every Koi in the pond (or poke a hole in the larger fish), even though they can only eat one fish. Racoons can't catch a healthy fish, but will eat one that is near the edge because it is sick or dying. To test that theory, stand in your pond, and try to catch a fish by hand. Even assuming you are smarter and have bigger hands than coons, bet you can't catch the Koi (unless they are used to you feeding them by hand)! Here is a great article by Syd Mitchell to answer the plastic heron debate, and to discuss alternatives to keep your pond safe. Hint - the very best system uses several of the devices pictures above (sold as Pond Scarecrows). Full text after the break...
In a previous post, I mentioned that both Koi and Goldfish must now be labeled as Invasive when sold in New York. This article discusses the word done by University of Notre Dame on carp prevention barriers for the Great Lakes. Read more after the break...
Please Read Full Article after the break...
Have you heard about Rain Gardens? We all know that rain-water runoff can be a big problem to Koi ponds, mostly cause it carries in toxins from the surrounding landscape. Rain Gardens - a 'bioretention system' help! While this study pertains to the Pacific Northwest and Salmon, the principles can be incorporated into our Koi pond landscapes. Another thought - just try and get everyone in the neighborhood not to use chemicals on their lawns and gardens... Full story after the break...
The following is an article excerpted from NPR. If you were to get a foot of rain overnight, how would that affect YOUR Koi Pond? Maybe we all need to start thinking of how to keep the Koi IN the ponds...
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