How to Keep Blue Herons From My Fish Pond

Blue herons can be detrimental to smaller fish ponds.

Blue herons are large waterfowl found in waterways all across North America. They are large birds with long, thin legs. They can fold their long necks into an "S" shape and have a loud, distinctive call. Herons are talented hunters, but they are not immune to a fast food style meal when it presents itself. Home fish ponds are an easy target for herons, and it can be difficult to deter the stubborn birds once they have found your fish pond. Begin with smaller scare tactics before moving to more complicated deterrents.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic decoys
• Tin cans
• String
• Poles or fence posts
• Monofilament
• Dowels

Instructions

1. Set up decoys in and around your pond. You can find plastic decoys at home improvement or garden supply stores. You can use heron-shaped decoys, but you may have more rapid response from using a decoy representing a heron's natural predator.

2. Use noise makers if the decoys do not keep the herons away. Noise makers can be as simple as tin cans tied to a string, then attached to a pole or fence post near the pond. You can also tie strings of tin cans to bushes near the pond.

3. Exclude the herons from your pond by screening the pond with monofilament. Cut lengths of monofilament long enough to stretch across your pond. For herons, you will need enough lengths of monofilament to place each string one foot apart. The herons will not be able to see the monofilament until they approach the pond, and they will avoid becoming tangled in the string. String the monofilament from north to south, then place additional strings east to west. Tie the ends of each string to dowels placed along the pond's edge. The monofilament screen can be tied one to two feet above the pond's surface.

4. Contact your local wildlife office if the herons are still attacking the fish in your pond. They can help you set up more complicated fencing and suggest other methods. In severe cases, they may be able to relocate the herons to a more hospitable environment.

References

• Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Aquatic Life
• Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources: A Management Guide for Ponds and Small Lakes in Kentucky
• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Great Blue Heron
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Conservation Library: Fish-eating Birds