Do raccoons eat water hyacinths?

[Mikey]

This morning I noticed that many of my water hyacinths had been partially eaten.  Several of the plants had been pulled out of the pond and they also had been chewed on.  This is the first time the water hyacinths have been targeted. 

I know I have raccoons and possums that visit and an occasional tree rat.  This past summer I saw momma raccoon and about 5 little kittens out front and I'm wondering if perhaps young raccoons would be inclined to eat these plants. 

[Kittyzee]

Mikey, I think that racoons will eat ANYTHING!      

[emm]

I no longer keep water hyacinth in the pond because our local raccoons have a special fondness for them.  The skunks like them too but didn't do near the damage; they tended to nibble chunks out of the "bladder" portion of the plant. 

My sister's pond in BC was continually being targeted by raccoons.  When she removed the water hyacinths the raccoons became less of a problem. 

emm

[PondmaninAL]

Mikey, it could have been raccoons, opossums, or squirrels.

[miguynmkoi]

I had to remove all temptations from my koi pond a couple of years ago when we had too many masked visitors    Now the koi swim in the open and under doubled netting.  I'm sure the koi still are targets but at least we get fewer visitors.  Darn the raccoons and skunks! 

[MikeW]

The raccoons can't reach my lilies, but the hyacinth are along the side. If nothing else, I know I have had a 'under the cover of darkness' visitor by the chewed up pieces of hyacinth scattered around the patio.

Cheers,

Mike

[janek]

Not sure if this helps but I read that a light will keep coons away.  Motion sensor on a spot light might keep them away.

[LeeAnne151]

Yes, raccoons will eat or take bites out of water hyacinths. Have had it done to mine multiple times. Have found partially eaten ones all over the yard.

Motion lights did not work for me. Just made it easier for us to see the raccoons.

[Mikey]

Well darn....  I have already gotten rid of my potted plants on the plant shelf due to those rascals and now it looks like I can't have water hyacinths either.... 

Thanks for the input.

[miguynmkoi]

Motion sensor lighting makes it easier for those masked marauders to find dinner.    It works for them in my yard. 

[Oh So Koi]

Does anyone here use a motion sensor scarecrow? Tons of cats and skunks, and a fair number of raccoons frequent my gardens, but the blasts of water from the scarecrow seem to keep these pesky critters at bay. So far so good for the plants and fish.

[JByrd]

Hi, I'm glad to hear that they work and have never tried one myself but I'm thinking about it. The winter is the only problem if it freezes then I would have to resort to other measures. Do these things work in the dark?

[LeeAnne151]

Johns has a Do It Yourself version on his website that is cheaper than buying a Scarecrow if you are handy with tools.

I have an electric fence around my fish pond that works really well as long as it is plugged in. 

But all of my other ponds and container water gardens get trashed on a regular basis.

[JByrd]

I've seen them but I don't think I could build one myself. I am going to put a fence around my pond but first I will try w/o electricity unless the herons arrive. What other things cann you do to stop those birds from coming around? I have cut back the lilies and my fish are now very visible to anything that flies. I have heard they do visit around here at another persons pond near me.