If you notice fish are disappearing from your pond but you’ve not seen a heron, this may because they tend to arrive very early in the morning or late in the evenings. Feeding at first and last night is generally safer, and they have less competition for food from other predators. Tell tale signs of heron activity would include feathers on the water, broken plants, torn netting, or injured fish (who just managed to get away). Fish shelters are a cost-effective and easy way to create a durable cover system on the pond floor, giving both koi and goldfish somewhere to retreat and de-stress. They won’t scare away a heron, but they allow your fish a much better chance of not becoming easy heron food.

EM Mud Balls are a unique mix of Bokashi wheat bran, clay, EM microbes and EM ceramic powder are fused together. Mud Balls which promote sludge-eating microbial activity, leaving you with a naturally clean and bright pond. Placing the decoy around the banks of the pond where a heron usually lands, or around pond plants ( lilies), will create a more natural illusion of a hunting gator. Combining an alligator decoy with a pond net and automatic sprinkler/sound system will likely deter even the bravest of herons. Protecting your pond fish from birds, cats, foxes, and other wildlife can seem impossible - but there are many ways to ensure your garden pond is a safe haven. The Pond Protector comes complete with transformer, 10 synthetic stakes, 80 metres of electric fence, connectors and instructions for use. The electric wire has a length of 80 metres, which is sufficient to protect 40 metres of pond side with two wires. ProductWith that said, some herons may not be deterred by decoys at all, as it all depends on the personality of the heron and whether or not it’s already become used to eating with company (or decoys) in other ponds.

Either choice of fencing would be fine for most ponds, but we would probably recommend regular fencing first as it’s cheaper and easier to install. If the heron continues to persist, you can then try upgrading to an electric type fence system. We recommend Veldas Pond Protector electric fencing products (pictured) which are available from the UK and have been designed with heron control in mind. The best brands, such as the ScareCrow sprinkler, can cover large distances with their water jets, so are suitable for both small and large garden ponds. They’re ideally placed alongside regular pond netting for maximum protection, but work very well on their own at deterring most predators from ponds. Decoys rely on the idea that herons are solitary feeders and do not like eating in the company of other herons, so the fake heron should be enough to stop a real heron landing and feeding. This generally works very well for herons not used to the surroundings, but most herons will grow more bold over time and eventually begin to figure out the decoy isn’t a threat.

Our installations do not require any alterations beforehand (unless excessive plant overgrowth) we always aim to ensure minimum disruption to your pond and your garden Today AllPondSolutions looks at some of the best options to safeguard your koi fish and other pond life from predators with smart solutions that will put your mind at ease. What Is the Best Way to Stop Birds From Eating My Pond Fish? A second option to stop herons from eating pond fish is to try to install pond fencing or wire around the perimeter of the pond. If you can stop herons from getting to the sides of the pond, they won’t be able to effectively hunt for fish. Although sometimes more effective than pond netting, fencing is more noticeable and harder to maintain. Using thin wiring for fencing is a popular middle-ground, as it’s strong enough to stop predators getting near the water but small enough to not be visually distracting.