So long, and thanks for all the fish! This is a picture I took of a Heron in Florida last January.
Get goldfish, they're cheaper, and most people wouldn't notice the difference.
Posted on 09/03/2004 5:48:01 PM PDT by Pukin Dog
I hate to break up this big news day with a personal request, but I need some advice from anyone who knows about how to prevent a Blue Heron from attacking my Koi pond?
I just arrived home to find this HUGE Blue Heron standing in the middle of my pond, swallowing what I discovered to be the last of my (very expensive) Koi. All my fish, some costing me between $100 and $300 are gone.
The Heron just lifted off with a belly full of fish; an amazing site, as this thing had to have a 6'ft wing span, and is now sitting on the roof of my house. My guess is that the Frogs are next?
I live in Mira Mesa, jogging distance to MCAS Miramar. What the hell is a bird like that doing out here anyway? Suggestions are welcome.
nice gun ;-)
So long, and thanks for all the fish! This is a picture I took of a Heron in Florida last January.
Get goldfish, they're cheaper, and most people wouldn't notice the difference.
I'm sorry to laugh!
But our neighbor had this to happen and it ate all his fish and brought his heron-wife to eat too.
Everyone around her has ponds and there is a beautiful large one right behind our houses. Herons are everywhere. And geese.
He put up a huge net of chicken wire.
It took a little work, but they did it.
Just a net, won't do. They fall through nets. It will take something stronger!
I'm so sorry, but if it weren't the fact that it is so normal for them, it would be hillarious.
Or should I say sad!
For the fish, I mean. ;-)!!!
Oh, and you too!
They have blow up snake decoys that might help. An owl decoy might do the trick also. My money would be on the snake though.
My mother lives up on the Outer Banks on Currituck Sound, and her neighbor has to keep a net over his koi pond all the time because of all the herons/cranes around there.
Wire a car horn to a motion detector and place it near the pond. The heron moves, 70db of noise. No more heron.
I remember the koi club prez stretching wire across her pond, especially at the shallow end which is only a few inches deep but not across the deep part (ten feet). How deep is your pond?
Forget koi and stock it with piranahs, which I hear is a wonderful hobby.
We haven't lost a fish since. Either the fish have the sense to go to the protected end or they're just too ugly to eat.
Forget koi and stock it with piranahs, which I hear is a wonderful hobby.
Next time you restock, put a big catfish or two in there. If the heron is stupid enough to choose one of them for his next meal, they'll spine him right in his narrow throat and choke him to death. Splash one freeloading heron.
Piranha are beautiful fish, certain species anyway.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/54892/photo15.html
Great blue heron in my yard.
Don't believe the host site lets me post pictures.
One guy on internet dug his pond deeper. This cut way back on his losses to blue herons. I guess the fish dive out of range of this bird
Have you tried placing rubber snakes near the pond? OTOH, for all I know the bird might try to eat them.
He is after all just doing his thing. Can't fault him for that.
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