Thief that stole koi carp and goldfish from ponds in Oakham, Rutland, might have been an mink rather than an otter

A mysterious thief that stole koi and goldfish from an Oakham pond could be a mink rather than an otter.

Following last week's article about the disappearance of 17 fish from Elaine Barton's garden in Redwing Close, readers have been in touch.

One of Ken Smith's ponds in Lonsdale Way, Oakham was completely cleared out by a predator. He said: "The pond was netted and it certainly wasn't a heron. Whatever it was chewed a hole that was too small for an otter. Being a fisherman myself, I believe it could be a mink

Steve Hudson of Willow Crescent, Oakham, added that he also thought a mink had cleared out his pond about a month ago, and ponds belonging to his neighbours.

Click here to read how the pond mystery began.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons