Not a euphemism, a heron has been spotted on the garden cctv. The fish are now hiding deep in the water.
Without a gun, cat or electrical fence, how can I deter the thing?

I’ve heard a fake one keeps real herons away.

Could be an urban rural myth, though…

No bird eating spiders handy?

Put a fake heron or Triffid next to the pond.

A model of another Heron at the side of the pond. They are very teritorial and if they think a heron already has that hunting ground they will move on IIRC
or you could let the heron get a free lunch. Herons are lovely birds

Our pond had nets covering it.
Copper pipe frames covered in relatively sturdy netting.

Kept them safe, but looked a bit cak. We inherited the pond & the net frames from the previous owner.
Best thing we did was get rid of the fish & the pond, but I’m guessing you like your pond…. 😆

Fake herons are popular.

We put a net across ours after losing a couple of fish to either a cat or a seagull.

garden cctv

This is a thing?

Eat them yourself first?

A Farage mannequin. Herons hate UKIP.

A string on poles around the edge of the pond, stops them wading in. We did that after a heron started nabbing our frogs.

I’ve heard a fake one keeps real herons away.

Doesn’t work, I’ve had the same problem and the fake, if anything, seems to encourage the real one.

Rocks around the edge of the pond help to stop them wading in, floating pond guards help. Lots of lilies for the fish to hide under also helps.

Failing all that you can do what I did and wire up a car window motor to a motion sensor connected to the hose. When the bird/cat triggers the motion sensor, they get a hosing.

Rather than netting above, a more sympathetic way is to submerge a metal frame just under the water – also useful if you have young children.

A pond crocodile should do the job.

Rather than netting above, a more sympathetic way is to submerge a metal frame just under the water – also useful if you have young children.

I tried this, but it changed the PH of the water.

I tried this, but it changed the PH of the water.

I am sure there will be wildlife safe options too.

Edit: http://www.pondsafety.com/

Without a gun, cat or electrical fence, how can I deter the thing?

And Heron lies the problem.

Sounds like a pickle.

Fake Heron works well.

Don’t do anything you might r-egret

I installed a net a net after loosing fish to a heron (mine was just under surface of the water as was the most aesthetically pleasing) after a while the net looked very tatty. I removed the net and of course stated to loose fish again.

I’ve now got one of these and pretty sure I haven’t lost one since.

Saddly not the electrified pond i googled but i imagine this is effective

A pond crocodile should do the job.

Pretty much their only natural predator. Get one, it’ll make your garden come alive!

Possibly put a series of short posts at regular intervals around the pond, then string fishing line across them, maybe set into slots in the tops of the posts. The monofilament is usually a green tint, and will be almost invisible, but will certainly impede a heron by tangling it’s feet.

I’ve heard a fake one keeps real herons away.

Sort of… a heron aid?

Leave some chips out on your garden table

Pampas grass is very effective.

Pampas grass is very effective……..

……at attracting Swingers!

Shotgun.
Aim high as fish and pond liners are allergic to shot.

Hire this band to take care of it?

[video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VuZKXaVsDco[/video]

matt_outandabout – Member
garden cctv

This is a thing?

It would be like watching paint dry….

A bloke I worked with used the string on canes mentioned above around his carp pond with success. He reckoned that herons won’t land on water, they wade in.

also useful if you have young children

I use a decoy to keep children at bay

Eat the heron?

Beaten to it by Frank!

Heron, bacon and leek pie, bit of mash, gravy. Job done.

And by pie I don’t mean stew with a lid.

More seriously plastic heron or some obstruction on the flight path or a mesh top.

We have a raised square pond so it’s got a wooden framed flat cover over with a mesh in it. it also has a wire grid there to child proof it (dates back to the toddler years)