What eats them? Muskrats, nutrias, beavers, crayfish, some fin fish, and Canada geese are some of the animals who eat cattails leaves and rhizomes. Through the years, cattails have been useful to all kinds of animals—including man.

What kills cattails in a pond?

Your attractive small patch of cattails will soon take over the edges of your pond making virtually impossible to treat, fish, and swim. Killing cattails is a must to keep the growth under control. The best way to kill cattails is by using an aquatic approved herbicide with the active ingredient, glyphosate.

How do you permanently get rid of cattails?

A systemic herbicide like Shoreline Defense will kill the cattails down to the root to prevent the plant from re-growing. The roots of pond cattails are the most difficult part of the plant to kill, so allow the mixture to absorb into the plant for one to two weeks.