Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Winter Fish Loss from Predators

Winter Fish Loss from Predators

We are already getting many emails from pond owners who's precious pets have disappeared! Sometimes there are signs of a visitor: Rocks are moved, plants flattened and the area around the pond is generally a mess. These clues usually point to a racoon. Often, however, there are no signs at all and yet...the fish are gone! In those cases the suspects are usually birds: Hawk, Owl, Heron or other predatory flying guests.

What can be done to prevent these visitors from making a meal or your fish?

The best protection is a pond net: Pond Net - It will replace some of the cover the fish lost when the plants died down and protect them from all but the most vicious predators. It has the added benefit of keeping leafs and debris out making spring start up easier.

If protection is needed during the "ponding" season or at other times when we do not necessarily want to look at a net over our pond, then the "scare crow" may be a better option: Scare Crow

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you have anything to keep neighbors out of my pond?

Mary said...

Thanks for your tips. An Owl decoy or about 3 aluminum pie plates strung around the pond can distract the invasions, too. I just don't like netting.

PondExpert said...

Maybe a Snapping Turtle?

PondExpert said...

Answer: Yes, depending on the predator, these measures might help.

Pie plates will not distract Raccoons though and even the Owl decoy will stop working as soon as the animal figures out it is not real (Raccoons are very smart).

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