Ponds and herons
Elaine174
Posts: 28
Hello. I'm trying to find the best method of protecting my fish from herons. I've tried netting the pond but have found a frog trapped in the netting on 2 occasions so would prefer not to net the pond in future. Has anyone found a successful method of protecting fish without endangering wildlife?
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The best system that we have found is a floating plastic mesh which you can tie together to fit the perimeter of any pond. It doesn’t look fantastic but we have CCTV footage of the heron arriving at 5.30 the other morning, standing on the stones around the edge of the pond and trying to get the fish to panic. One fish moved into open water, the heron stepped onto the floating mesh, began to sink, panicked itself and stepped back onto the stone surround. At that moment, the cavalry arrived in the form of our fearless moggie who charged at the heron, almost caught it and sent it packing.
Of course, the heron was back the next day.
So far, no fish have been lost using this mesh method. We have had it for two years now.
https://www.harrodhorticultural.com/net-float-10-mats-pid8527.html#Reviews_Tab
We also have frogs and toads in the pond and they bred successfully and have now moved out. The heron only caught one frog, which had decided to move beyond the confines of the floating mesh.
When I made the 12x8 pond 20+yrs ago I planted juniperus squamata around the front, this is a prickly conifer and the herons wont walk on it. There are benches at both ends of the pond, so they can't get in there, and the back of the pond is a wide slate (ivy covered) waterfall and a big clump of Japanese anemones, so now there's no where that the heron can get close enough to the pond anymore.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.