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Wading,
fish eating Birds
 Herons,
Egrets, Night Hunting Herons (small), Kingfishers---Fly over your pond and will land 10 or so feet away
from it and walk in. They use stealth to catch their prey and will sit at the side of
your pond motionless until a fish swims into view. They will then catch the fish
in their beaks with a lightening fast stab. They will return to your pond until
they catch all your fish. The small night hunting Heron is the smartest of all,
they will try to crawl under nets and avoid the Scarecrow (tm).
Mammals
 Raccoons---Are
nocturnal hunters and good swimmers. A sure sign of a Raccoon attack are parts
of you fish, usually the head, left on your lawn and pots of plants knocked over
in your pond.
 Possums
or Opossums---Are also night hunters, but normally will not bother pond fish.
Snakes---Will
try to catch fish in your pond, but normally only catch frogs or tadpoles.
 Feral
or Wild Cats---Abandoned cats have to hunt for their food and will, if
hungry enough, swim to catch your pond pets.
 House
Cats---Well fed House cats very rarely attack your pond fish, however, if a
fish is sick and lethargic and can be caught easily, House cats will not
hesitate to accept this free meal.
Deterrents
 The
Scarecrow
 motion and heat sensing device, that uses a 10 second stream of
water is also very effective.
Other
devices, such as strung fishing line over the pond, bottle rockets, reflective tape or CD's hung
over the pond and life size Heron decoys are only marginally effective.
Pond Netting, which is nearly invisible until you are within a few feet from the
pond is almost 100% effective, except for Raccoons which will tear the net apart.
Plastic Decoy Fish in conjunction with a hiding
place such as an inverted milk crate or black drain pipe will also work.
 Hava-A-Hart
Traps--Can be bought at Pest Control stores. In some states, the ASPCA will
rent or even loan you a trap. Canned Sardines placed in the trap next to the
pond work very well on all mammals.
Caution--Wild
animals may carry Rabies, especially wild cats or Raccoons. When carrying or
handling the trap wear heavy leather gloves, or better yet, pull the trap by a
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