Can a RAT kill a DUCK?

[SamLockwood]

I found my duck passed away this morning, she was not of laying age. The only wounds were to her back end, where the intestines (I think) were pulled out. She was the only duck killed out of my 9 other ducks. There was blood around the coop, like she was walking around after being attacked. I have a net over their run, so that can eliminate hawks/owls. I see no trenches or holes in the fencing. I am confused what killed her!

On another note, I have been battling RATS, burrowing into my run. I have not been able to trap them (or it). Could a rat kill my DUCK?

I've had rats kill adult chickens.

 

[Lolame777]

Hi everyone,

I just had a very similar case to you with one of my adult Roen Duck found dead in her run. She appeared to have died earlier then was gutted with her lower tummy where here intestines are were pulled out with a hole surrounding the area where potentially the rat had opened it.

It couldn't be our dog, we've got a Maremma Sheepdog with our flock and she's been guarding them for over a year and we've never had that problem. It's not possible to be her because the duck was dead inside the area our dog can't get in and no marks at all of a dog attack. Just a neat hole under her tummy with intestines out.

Very strange thing to happen and why would she die if nothing was wrong with her? She was very active like the others the day before roaming free in the paddock.

 

[McChooky]

Possums were squeezing thru my daughter in laws catio and stealing cat food until I placed cinder blocks around the bottom.(it sat on a concrete pad)The sides had 2 x 3 inch wire mesh with a layer of chicken wire on top to give you an idea how small the holes are

Possums unlike coons will kill one chicken at a time and they love to eat the intestines (most predators leave them) They'll prefer to steal cat food or eggs being it requires less work

 

[Luv Ducks]

She was full grown though. Would they still kill a full grown one?

It sounds like the act of a racoon I feel. That is exactly what happened to the two in my pen that were killed by one. They eat all of the insides and it practically ate my whole Wood duck that was a smaller one. The other was a large Khaki Campbell. They will burrow under a pen if they can. They got my neighbors chickens that way.