How do I prevent the heron from eating my fish?

Fish farming is really difficult. They are aquatic animals that have complicated diets. They are often devoured by several species of nuisance birds, such as herons.

How to keep herons away and protect your beloved fish pond? Here are some solutions to reduce fish theft in your pond.

Recently, and on several occasions, you have noticed the presence of an intruder near the water source in your garden. Herons are very voracious and capable of devouring your fish stock in a few days. And for good reason, these birds with long beaks and long necks are keen on fish and other frogs. 

 => Discover all our devices right here to scare away the heron bothering your fish. We have selected and tested about twenty solutions for you. 

When these birds of prey land in your pond, you can already expect disaster. In fact, herons are considered the type of bird that always invades your fish pond and seeks to eat your fish.

So, to avoid suffering even more, you will need to find immediate solutions. These different measures must be applied in the long term. As precautionary measures, you must:

Each individual can consume more than 500g of fish per day. Once they have spotted your pond or your ornamental pond, herons will not fail to mistake it for an all-you-can-eat buffet… And they will not hesitate to dip into it, until the total depletion of its new food source: your beautiful fish. 

THE LIST OF THE BEST SOLUTIONS TO DRIVE AWAY HERONS

There are several solutions to keep herons away from a pond or a lake. You are therefore not condemned to feed your feathered squatters indefinitely, but you will still need to consider some alternatives. This article will guide you through the different existing solutions to scare these birds away from a fish pond.

Semi-floating floating system to scare fish away

Floating grids to assemble that cover your pond. The floating pond protection system is easy and quick to install, and it can indeed protect your pond from cats/herons and other natural enemies (the attached clip is easy to install and use).

 

The deterrent kite 

This solution always uses the decoy system, but this time with a kite. This one is generally shaped like a crow, and is very effective at fooling and driving herons away from a given area. 

This bird deterrent kite system allows you to protect seedlings and aquaculture areas. It keeps crows, pigeons, cormorants, and herons away.

• Protection of seedlings, fruit trees, gardens, fields, chicken coops. 
• Keeps magpies, crows, pigeons, cormorants, and herons away.
• Kite with 2.5m Kevlar line and steel hooks

The heart of the system is a bird shaped like a bird of prey (Eagle/Falcon) that flies with the wind on top of a perch. At the slightest breeze (Less than 2 Km/h is enough), the device sets itself in flight and flies randomly. It imitates the flight of a bird of prey, such as a buzzard, a sparrowhawk, or a falcon, to intimidate predatory birds and defend your crops, your fruit trees, your vegetable garden, your vineyard…

An anti-heron electric fence

The installation of an anti-heron electronic fence allows you to protect different fish ponds. This fence poses no danger to us humans. To use it, you install an electrifier, which will serve as a transformer while delivering low-voltage electrical pulses.

 

=> CLICK RIGHT HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FENCE AGAINST HERONS. 

So, it is completely safe for humans. As soon as a heron dares to touch the fence wire, it will trigger a shock which will then deter the predatory animal so that it can no longer return.

The fence with stakes and fishing line

During its daily fishing session, the heron generally positions itself at the edge of the body of water before grabbing its prey. The first solution consists of deploying a fence around your pond or fish pond. You can therefore start by installing a fence made of stakes and fishing line. This already helps to bother the heron that is about to enjoy one of your fish. 

In practice, the idea is to distribute the stakes around the pond, and to place the fishing line at a height of 20 cm / 30 cm. The line will serve to bother the heron in its dash to grab a fish. Not only will this keep it away, but it is sometimes enough to deter it from fishing in your pond.

The provision of a tall plant zone

This trick is always recommended to anyone who wants to create a fish pond. Once you have built your pond, you must always find a way to bypass these birds. You must provide deep areas to keep the fish safe.

We also recommend letting tall plants grow in accessible areas. Have a doubt? Send us a photo of your pond or lake at support@foudebassin.com 

It is necessary to provide several tall plant zones to block herons from reaching the edges of the pond.

⭐ You may also be interested in: the list of oxygenating plants for a balanced pond

The use of a protective net

It is possible to install a protective net that must necessarily be raised by stakes whose minimum height is about 20 centimeters above the water. We recommend placing it like a gazebo or a "teepee". Have a doubt? Send us an email via support@foudebassin.com, it is the best way to get the right answers :-) 

A net allows you to have a pond with a much more limited silt level in the spring. It helps prevent the water from becoming cloudy because of leaves. Once these leaves fall into the water, they decompose and "pollute" your pond. That is why a natural pond can quickly turn into a swamp. 

This method is ranked among the most effective measures to permanently scare away predators, more precisely herons.

Use of a fake heron

It is a measure considered effective against the heron that wants to finish the fish in your pond. We recommend moving this fake heron every week. Some of our eshopers (foudebassin) are convinced by the solution, however, there are some herons that are not afraid of anything. We will let you give your opinion in the reviews of the products against herons. We are here if you have questions.

In the majority of cases, this method is designed for male herons who are not used to waddling around with female herons.

It is possible to use bird deterrents in our fish pond to scare away herons. One of our flagship products since 2016 with which we have very good results is the scarybird.

 Discover it right here => SCARYBIRD Deterrent / Any questions? Send us an email via support@foudebassin.com / We will be happy to guide you. 

The installation of a motion detector

The heron is also afraid of movements coming from elsewhere in the pond. It always thinks it is the owner who is making this movement. To make this measure work, you simply need to find the devices that can react to heat and motion.

 You can click here to discover our detectors against herons. This allows you to keep a pond preserved and conducive to the reproduction of your species. 

As a motion detector, for example, the Laser Guard from Velda is known because it emits sound waves. It should be added that the light flashes always create an unpleasant commotion on the premises.

These birds of prey have always considered green laser beams to be moving disruptive elements. In addition, the frightening cries of a frog, the barking of dogs, and even the sound of a distressed member of their own species prevent herons from returning.

Installing a mosquito net

A mosquito net is a way to prevent mosquitoes in humans so that they are not bitten by a mosquito. From now on, it is wise to use this equipment to create a barrier to herons in the pond.

For flat-edged ponds, it is a trick that works wonderfully. In addition, it is possible to design your mosquito net to measure. Leaving my fish pond, all you have to do is place the mosquito net over the pond and the job is done. Moreover, it should be noted that this solution so far brings a bit of aesthetics especially for contemporary ponds.

Setting up small stakes around the pond

When creating your pond, it is better to organize the enclosure so as not to have an unpleasant surprise whose main actors will be the herons. You need to place these small stakes around the pond with nylon thread better known as fishing line.

Click here to discover this heron repellent kit with the stakes and the bells. Effective if it is a fairly fearful heron, it will allow to surprise it as soon as it approaches its beak to the water. 

 

Installing electric fence kits

If you have enough means to properly barricade your pond against birds of prey such as herons, you can buy electric fence kits that will put an end to the unexpected visits of herons to your fish pond.

Use of a reflective pyramid

In fact, it is a type of pyramid that is capable of reflecting sunlight which always scares herons. Given that this bird hunts either at night or very early in the morning, you really need to favor this installation on ponds that are exposed to sunlight.

The shiny pyramid offers the solution to the heron problem. The pyramid floating on the water shines, sparkles and reflects daylight so intensely that it scares herons. One shiny pyramid is enough to protect ± 6 m2 of the pond surface against herons. Use larger pyramids for larger ponds. Including the wire and the weight for fixing in the pond.

The option of a PLASTIC PEREGRINE FALCON

You just need to place it on a large piece of wood and think about changing its place after 15 days. This method is chosen because the Peregrine Falcon is now considered the only predator of herons.

The use of back-to-back CD-ROMs

It is certainly an archaic method, but it pays off. There are several ways to install this trap. But the easiest method is to tie CD-ROMs on a rope and make light knots between the CD-ROMs. 

Then, you will need to stretch this roll of wire over the trees closer to the pond or over shrubs and even over the small stakes bordering the pond. Thanks to a light gust of wind these birds of prey will follow a sound effect then, will flee.

 => Discover right here all our devices to scare the heron that bothers your fish. We have selected and tested for you about twenty solutions. 

Over time, these herons will no longer come to eat fish due to the sound effect coming from these two CD-ROMs touching each other. This old method is also to be experimented on contemporary fish ponds.

Where to start?

No solution is infallible alone: experience shows that you need to combine several means. Here is a simple method, from the safest to the lightest.

1. Identify the visitor's habits. The heron hunts at night or very early in the morning, and stands at the edge before fishing.
2. Place a barrier over the access. A pond net on stakes, or a fishing line stretched at 20-30 cm height around the pond.
3. Landscaped the pond. Deep areas for fish and high bank plants on accessible edges.
4. Add a deterrent (fake heron, kite, detector) and change its place regularly: see our solutions against herons.
5. Take stock after a few days. If the heron returns, combine several devices rather than multiplying a single one.

Conclusion

Living in this world with birds of prey is not easy especially in the case of fish farming. The example of herons sufficiently shows that you need to use several means to better succeed in fish farming. 

From now on, it is no longer easy for herons to come finish your fish in the ponds. Because, you already have solutions. It is up to you to choose one of the measures to put your pond safe from birds of prey.

 => Discover right here all our devices to scare the heron that bothers your fish. We have selected and tested for you about twenty solutions. 

Frequently asked questions

How to prevent a heron from eating my fish?

Combine several means: a net or a line stretched around the pond, deep areas and high plants on the edges, then a deterrent that you move regularly.

What is the most effective solution against the heron?

The protection net, raised on stakes of at least 20 cm above the water, is part of the most effective measures. On a large pond where it is impossible, combine deterrents and landscaping.

Is a fake heron enough to protect my pond?

Not always. You need to move it every week, and some herons are afraid of nothing. Combine it with a physical barrier.

When does the heron come to fish?

It hunts at night or very early in the morning. In spring, it looks for food for its babies; in autumn, food becomes scarce and pond fish become an easy prey.

How many fish can a heron eat?

A single individual can consume more than 500 g of fish per day, and empty a stock in a few days.

Can you capture or injure a heron?

No. The grey heron is part of the protected birds in France as in Belgium. Only non-lethal solutions are to be considered: nets, deterrents, pond landscaping.