How long have you had your pond WITHOUT predation by wing or paw?

[Marck]

that's another approach; take the fish out when you leave and put them back in when you're out enjoyin' the pond. Better have waterproof pockets, though...

Or just never put the fish in at all.

 

[brokensword]

Or just never put the fish in at all.

BLASPHEMY, oh dear Marck!! Don'tcha know, that's too simple fer us; we'd surely ruin it that way. We gots ta have SUMTHIN' to mess up, ya know!!

 

[Marck]

I'll admit the complexities of fishkeeping are fascinating. I've come to appreciate it as a spectator sport.

 

[Lisak1]

We've never netted our pond, and the only fish we lost were to a skunk that took two in one night. We went on full defense and it never happened again. Oddly enough you know what skunks hate? Things that smell bad! We mixed up a concoction of all the powerful smelling things we could think of - mainly a variety of types of hot sauce, cayenne pepper, garlic, and the hottest peppers known to man - and sprayed the fence where we could see it was coming over for about 5 or 6 days. Never crossed our paths again. And one of our dogs learned to leave the fence alone!

We had a heron surveying our pond from our neighbor's roof for about a week once - thought that was going to be trouble. He landed in the pond for about 30 seconds and then took off again, never to return. We see them flying overhead daily, but I think our yard is a bit too enclosed for them. Not enough of a clear flight path.

 

[addy1]

but I think our yard is a bit too enclosed for them. Not enough of a clear flight path.

M ponds and yard are nothing but a clear flight path, no obstructions. The huge maple died, the old apple trees were cut back. Now I have big arrows in the sky pointing down to the ponds, come and snack!

 

[Jhn]

Until I put nets up heron, hawks, osprey, raccoons have visited the pond. My current pond is out in the open, so I put up with it for years, because I didn’t want a net over the pond, once birds of prey started snatching turtles, then I rethought the no net thing, and just hung one up high and the pond addition from this past spring, made a net curtain that I can open and close.

 

[brokensword]

Until I put nets up heron, hawks, osprey, raccoons have visited the pond. My current pond is out in the open, so I put up with it for years, because I didn’t want a net over the pond, once birds of prey started snatching turtles, then I rethought the no net thing, and just hung one up high and the pond addition from this past spring, made a net curtain that I can open and close.

was it the heron or osprey/hawks going after your turtles, jhn? I knew herons would take small enough turtles, though. I'm assuming you lost SMALL turtles?

 

[Jhn]

was it the heron or osprey/hawks going after your turtles, jhn? I knew herons would take small enough turtles, though. I'm assuming you lost SMALL turtles?

Nope it was some good size ones, probably 6” diameter shells, was hawks.

 

[j.w]

I now really enjoy seeing the heron stop by as I know they can't get into my fish! They are such patient stalkers, moving in slow motion all around the pond. After a few circles, and putting their feet on the net to see if it will hold them they finally give up and fly out w/a pouting look on their face