Herons at my pond
sleeplessinftwayne
15 years ago
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garyfla_gw
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Spacing for fishing line
Comments (8)Have a 2500 gallon pond that I have had for about 12 years and herons are a continuing problem with eating any koi smaller than about 7 inches or so. Although netting works it is just plain ugly. I have been using 2 fishing lines for about 6 years with much success most of the time, but the height seems to be pretty critical. I recently have had the unwelcome heron visitor who has taken many of my small koi. I was determined to see how he was getting in and waited for him one morning this week and watched him land by the pond and saw him looking over the pond for several minutes. He then walked over and got down below the line and crawled under it. I of course chased him away. I was shocked at how low he could get. My lower fishing line was higher than I normally have it at that point, about 14 or 15 inches. My second one was about 24 inches. I have now lowered them to about 11 inches and 20 inches and hope that does it. Incidentally, racoons will be a problem if you do not have straight sides. They will not step into water over 10 inches or so. Make sure you do not have shallow sloping sides. Once they get in the depth does not seem to be an issue. Good luck!...See MoreHeron?
Comments (35)I'm South Jersey- We just upgraded from 3 small preformed ponds too a 11x21.5ft pond 2 weeks ago, while we were digging the hole 2 herons flew over each night-like they knew what we were doing -but we figured because we have outside cats wondering around and a couple dogs in and out , we wouldnt have to worry about our fish....Not so . This past Sunday morning I noticed 2 of my big shubunkins where gone and a few little fish. A small turtle and 2 dozen minnows we had kept in one of the small preformed ponds...I thought coon, cat or those Heron's..we suspected it was a heron- so last night we put up string, criss crossed etc. because that is what we use too keep the geese and swans out of the bogs because they do alot of damage too the cranberry vines on the farm, in the fall and winter- I also put a blueish grey pelican statue about 3 ft high along side my pond Sunday evening that my dad gave me. No fish were missing Monday morning and none today , however my neighbor called at 6 am this morning because there was a Heron sitting on the peak of our roof...but by the time we got out there he was gone.at least we know what we are dealing with.so whether it's the string, or the pelican statue (the statue was there before the string) keeping him at bay I dont know but am hoping he just finds a new place for breakfast...we are only a couple hundred yards from a creek that goes into a lake and why he would rather eat my poor fish -then get some good crayfish and catfish out of the lake is beside me. I was sick to my stomach all that hard work building a beautiful pond for a lousy bird too come ruin it, but hopefully now we have it under control. Will let you know if he comes back to visit....See MoreGoldfish rape.
Comments (5)Hi Scotty, Great you're still around and thanks for replying to my problem! I had no idea this could happen and I'm really glad I was around because the poor fish looked like it was in a bad way, with no chance of escape. Perhaps it wouldn't have survived if I hadn't been able to rescue it. I asked pondconswervation.org about this and I got a reply from Jo Fever who replied: Frogs are not the brightest of creatures especially around the breeding season and they have been known to hang on to anything that moves in the hope it is a female frog! Toads are often victim to this and fish are occasionally caught too. It sadly is not as uncommon as you may think! Oh dear, Mother Nature does make a few mistakes occasionally!! Big Kid...See MoreHerons and Crows
Comments (2)--Seems like these crows are actually your mates, because I'd rather have them than a heron around my pond any day!-- Yup, don't I know it ;o)...See Moresheepco
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