My first Heron attach

[oldmarine]

The other morning I woke up to hearing splash, splash, splash, outside the bedroom window. I jumped up and whipped the shade back just in time to see a blue heron fly away from my pond. After a brief inventory of my pond and fish, I couldn't find any fish. At best I think I still have four out seven shubunkin's left.

I am open for all and any suggestions to the best ways to prevent anymore sneak attacks from my fat and happy local heron.

 

[fishin4cars]

Cover and cover quick! If it's gotten one meal it will be back for more, almost a guarantee. Cheap and easy quick fix, run poles with fishing line back and forth wher it might fly in or try to walk to the pond, Honestly, this is the two most effective ways to stop them legally, other , well,,,,,well WAR!:twisted:

 

[addy1]

Fishing line knee high is what jw has used successfully. With shallow ponds you also need line over the top so they can't land in the water. Like fishin suggests.

Sorry about your fish. So far mine are safe, they hang out in the deep section of the pond. I finally have seen the suckers! The little fry are too little for a heron to see at this point.

 

[mouseams]

I am so sorry, I know how you feel. I lost my first 3 koi who were extremely friendly to a heron last year and I still feel like I let my friends down. Heron came before I had a chance to net the pond. This year we put up a sun sail over the pond, which helpd hide from the view of the heron and a noddy bird who moves around with the dlightes breeze, hung cds at the other side. Keeping fingers crossed, but for now I would put the net over at the bery least if you have one AND do the fishing line. The heron may still try with just the net.
Good luck oldmarine and by the way, thank you for your service in the military!

 

[j.w]

Sorry to hear that Rich. I do use the line strung on short poles and I also have a little wire garden fence around mine too. If your pond is shallow which will allow the heron to fly right into it then you will need to either cover it with netting (make sure the netting isn't just low on the water or they will still stab the fish) or put the line like addy said criss cross across the top. You have to have the line around the side high enough so they can't just reach over it w/ their long necks. The spaces in the fencing must be small enough so they can't duck down and squeeze through either cuz I had one do that so I had to add wire in between my fence holes also. I also have used the loud talk radio on a timer set to come on dawn to dark which the heron hated. I don't have it set up right now but I will if I see him again or if I go away on vacation or something. Hope whatever you choose to do will help.

 

[onemean]

i feel your pain, sob got me too many times to count. he is a sneaky devil and will be back. i have the scarecrow motion sprinkler, some fishing line and the wireless driveway buzzer to let me know when he's coming.good luck

 

[marla]

I've tried, the sensor sprinkler, shinny objects, aligator decoy, and other things...no loud talk radio yet....I did use criss-cross baler twine this year early but didn't trust it as we have heron every year. I went back to the nets the minute I saw my first heron in flight. I don't like to net but I know this is the only way I have ever kept them out and do not right now want to risk the life's of my 7yr old 20" koi or any of my goldfish and shubunkin.

 

[Deb S]

I have lost many beautiful and expensive koi in the past. Its heartbreaking. Usually they only took the small koi but 2 yrs ago they tried to take my Bianca (22 in solid white) but because she was so big they weren't able to carry her and she died because of spearing. We've also tried it all and the only thing we have found that works is the stringing he fishing line. We were told by our local pond expert that herons and egrets need their wing span area to fish so we've strung to make about 2 ft crisscross squares. We lost 2 little fish this year but don't think it was a heron - think it probably was a racoon!

 

[oldmarine]

Thank for your to all that responded with their heart breaking stories and good advice. I was hoping to avoid obstructing the view of my pond with anything, but after my first and hopefully last heron attack I am forced to construct a fame and web of fish line. This heron has obviously been back several times. I am down to what appears to be just a couple of fish that refuse to come out of hiding and one bull frog.

Happy ponding,

 

[j.w]

Hope it does well for ya Rich. If so you'll be looking for some more fish to buy :lol:

 

[oldmarine]

Hi JW,
Yes, just not in a hurry. I think this time I will be looking for some long fin Shubunkin's. Three of the Shubunkin's that I lost were over five years old and about nine inches long. I still can't tell how many are left. As of this posting I can only see the nose of one of the smallest Shubunkin's.

Any good pictures of DIY netted flames and or fish line grids would be helpful.

Happy ponding,

 

[adavisus]

It can take weeks for surviving fish to calm down after a heron has done some damage. It's at times like this you appreciate those fish which you selected which are shy, timid, smart, well camouflaged...

Don't those endangered (can't imagine why) darling herons just love those defenseless brightly colored very sociable sushi snacks, lol

Regards, andy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21940871@N06/
http://swglist.wordpress.com/

 

[rdk]

Oldmarine: My pond is about the same size as yours. Why don't you build a Dr. Dave stile fence covered with 1/2" square wire? Mine is painted with fish safe black paint and looks great. Nothing has gotten at my fish so far. RDK

 

[DrDave]

They are cheap, easy to build, and easy to remove. I have not lost a Koi since building these 3 years ago. I see evidence that raccoons have walked on them at night with no losses.

 

[blessedfamily]

So sorry to hear this..I have lost many fish this year to what I think has to be a heron but I am yet to actually see it at my pond just guessing. :yikesu: