Emergency Winter Tips:
Never use any type of object to beat on the ice to open a hole in the Pond. The resulting sound waves can kill your fish!
Fill some used plastic soda bottles with hot water out of the faucet instead. Leave some room at the top, put on the lid and lay them on their side on the ice and let them melt it. You may have to repeat a few times if the ice is very thick. (If they roll, use a small pebble to brace them). DO NOT step on the ice, you could break through! The hole can be close to the edge. Place the bottle(s) where you can easily reach them while standing firmly on the side of the Pond!
The edges of a Pond can be hard to see when covered with ice and snow. Mark the perimeter with sand, cold ashes from the fireplace, bird seed or some other harmless, colorful substance to prevent someone from accidentally trying to walk across it and potentially falling through the ice.
The coldest part of winter is just starting! If you do not have a heater/de-icer or air pump yet...get one now!