Protecting your Garden Pond from Pesky Predators
Notice any fish disappearing lately? While herons are present
year-round, water gardeners notice the challenges they bring to
the pond in spring and early summer when herons feed their young. An adult heron needs about 13 ounces of food daily, which is
equivalent to three 6" koi. If herons find an easy source of food
(i.e. colorful fish in a shallow pond), they'll return on several
consecutive days. They can quickly decimate your fish population. They're generally shy birds who typically visit early in the
morning or in the evening, when everything is quiet. Prevent herons from attacking your fish with these simple
precautions. If you do lose some fish, don't resort to harming or
killing the herons; they are a protected species. ? Netting: The most effective deterrent for herons is to suspend
a net 6"-12" above the pond surface. Make sure the net is taut
and cannot fall into the pond if the heron tried to land on it
and spear the fish through it. ? Heron Scarers: Some work on a "trip-wire" basis, producing a
loud noise while others use a sound inaudible to the human ear.
Others sense the presence of heron using infrared detection, and
scare them away by spraying a high-pressure jet of water. ? Plastic Herons: Based on the principle that herons are
territorial and don't feed close to one another, artificial
plastic herons are popular. Unfortunately, they aren't effective
year-round. In late winter and early spring, herons' search for a
mate may actually attract more herons to your pond. ? Pond Design: Dense growths of tall marginal plants or shrubs
around the pond will limit the herons' access to the water.
Ensuring the pond side is steep and the water is 8"-12" below the
edge of the pond also helps since the heron will not be able to
reach the fish. **************************************************
Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several
other pond-related websites including
MacArthurWatergardens.com
and Pond-Filters-Online.com. He
also publishes a free monthly
newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over
9,000. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive our FREE
'New Pond Owners Guide' visit MacArthur Water Gardens today!
**************************************************
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