What's eating the freshwater mussels

[Simeon]

I live near the Cambridgeshire fens and often walk my dog along the drains. I am amazed at the amount of freshwater mussel shells strewn about. I would like to knoe what is diving for and eating them. The majority are around the bank where there are several small burrows.

[andy-hughes]

I know next to nothing about natyure, but I'd take an educated guess at - otters.

[Simeon]

Thanks for your reply Andy

I very much doubt it's otters as the area just does not look like otter habitat. The fenland drains are very open, windy and treeless.

[EllyD]

might be coypus.

[mccfluff]

i found this, i don't know how close wicken fen is to you but they have otters, it was my first thought to when i saw the Q

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-vi sits/w-findaplace/w-wickenfennationalnatureres erve.htm

[burnhal]

Otters, various birds. Also rats would you believe have learned to dive and pull them out- read this story from March in Cambs http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1550660.stm

[WendyS]

When we were on the south coast a few weeks ago near a rocky area we were amazed to find seagulls with mussels in their beaks dropping them on the shingle beach and then swooping down to pick out the innards after the shell had been smashed. Wouldn't have believed it if we hadn't actually seen it.

[andy-hughes]

You are most welcome - as I said, it was an educated guess, hopefully someone will come along who knows what they are talking about! :-)

[TopKat]

I think the culprits might well be wild mink. My dad used to live on a canal boat near Ely and he saw a lot of them. They even invaded the boat once when he was out and made a heck of a mess!!