Pond Disturbance - Please, Not the Net

14 years ago

You may or may not have noticed my recent post asking about advice on what to use to deter cats from my pond without disturbing my dog.

1) I don't have anything against cats. I actually love 'em.

2) I was never worried that a cat was ever going to eat any of my fish.

3) I'm open to the idea that maybe my problem isn't cats.

Here's my pond setup: in the middle of my 6-foot by 4-foot pond (2.5 feet deep) I've placed some bluestones ontop of milk crates and so now the entire middle area of the pond is full of marginal plants (8) atop the bluestone shelves.

Here's the problem: every other day or so, one of the plants is knocked off the shelf or somehow dislodged.

Here's what I'm thinking: I'm thinking that it's not raccoons because from what I've been reading here, if it were raccoons the entire pond would be a wreck and it wouldn't be just one pot knocked over or dislodged.

Here's what I'm wondering: What else do you think it could be? I'm not so sure anymore that it's cats.

Here's what I'm afraid of: The fish are hiding nearly all the time now. I haven't seen them happily swimming around the edges of the pond in quite a while. They seem pretty well spooked. And, I can't be sure of this because of their lack of visible movement, but I'm thinking that maybe 2 of my fav's are gone.

I live in a very tight suburban neighborhood. We're talking very small front/back yards and the houses are rather close together (picture something like Brooklyn/Queens). The last time anyone had a problem with a raccoon in the neighborhood was sometime last year.

With all that said ... do you think it's possible that a heron may have found my little heaven? The distance between the edge of the pond and the bluestone shelves in the middle is only about 8-12 inches and the fish have PLENTY of room to hide underneath, but you never know.

Break it to me gently. Is it time for netting (yuck!)?

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Comments (12)

diggery
14 years ago
I had a similar problem but no pond predators in my neck of the woods. Drove me nuts til I caught the culprit in the act late one night. Turned out, it was the mother of all frogs! Whodathunk?

Hope you can figure it out without resorting to the dreaded net.
pikecoe
14 years ago
I would bet my last dollar, and I don't have many. That it is a Heron and it is landing on the plants in the center and fishing from there. When it lands or lunges for a fish with that long skinny neck and that sharp ugly beak it is knocking plants over. No wonder your fish are hiding, they are scared to death. Those things are ugly and patient and deadly and stealthy, oh did I say patient? And I am saying as gently as I know how...A net is the only way to go to be sure they don't eat your fish..
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bluesunflower
14 years ago
Ok, feeling Steve1young's net pain here.
To those that know -Can you put the net so that it is in the water instead of hovering above it?
Also Steve, since your pond is not an unmanageble size what about putting something overhead? I have seen everything from gazebo/pergolas to sails. I have not had a problem with herons yet and may not because I have bald eagles but I would hate to have to net my pond also.
krnuttle
14 years ago
We live in an urban environment and have a pond with three pools that is part of our deck. I know we have raccoons, because we have seen them and now our neighbor is trapping them. They have been around the pond for several years. They have not been destructive, just mischievous. My wife claims they are having an occasional pool party in our pond.

We frequently see foot prints around the pond and occasionally something will be knocked off. There have been times they have tasted the water plants. At times the pond suddenly looses several inches of water. (The pool party effect, last one in is a dummy)

My point is that you can have resident raccoons without significant destruction. One thing you can check for is evidence of their bathroom habits. They like flower beds near the water.
pikecoe
14 years ago
Raccoons are filthy animals. They carry diseases that a human definately doesn't want. For example a kind of worm passed in their feces that could be transmitted by way of dogs cats, barefeet. Hands working in the soil where they have been if not wearing gloves. They are cute and their actions can be considered cute. But I would never encourage or even allow them near my pond.
lostlkfarm
14 years ago
What about a water driven scarecrow device. I have one and the heron hasn't come back since being splattered, area cats have discontinued their roaming and as far as I know, we don't have raccoons. I have heard that after a fashion though, raccoons will just play in the shooting stream. It's about $64 ish and shipping to get comfortable.
steve1young
Original Author
14 years ago
Yep, I'm seriously considering the water scarecrow. Thanks, lostlkfarm. I have a feeling that pikecoe is right and we're dealing with a Heron here.

Everyone, thanks for your feedback! Happy ponding!!
pikecoe
14 years ago
The water scarecrow did nothing for the Heron that visited my pond or my daughters.
buyorsell888
14 years ago
A cat leaping out to the potted plants isn't at all likely if I'm reading you correctly that the plants are all clustered in the center of your pond? surrounded by water?

Accidentally knocking a plant into the pond would not cause your fish to hide like they are.

Something has been after them, that is what causes them to hide like that. A heron or raccoon has been into the water after them. They are scared for their lives and with good reason.

A heron could easily knock plants over when landing there to use the plant island for a fishing platform.

A cat watching doesn't scare them, I've seen my fish come right up to a cat (before electric fence for raccoons) Cats don't dive or wade into ponds after fish.

Look at your pond really early in the morning, dawn/sunrise. I bet you'll see a heron.

There is a DIY "Scarecrow" on the website below if you are handy, it adds up to less than they retail for if you make it yourself.

Here is a link that might be useful: Heronizer
pezabelle
14 years ago
We live in a rural area with lots of fish loving birds. Our quick fix as a dock. It extends into the pond but was built so that it extends down into the water. The fish can swim under and up, leaving the stalkers behind. This also keeps the racoons and possums away. They don't seem to come back to where there is no food.

To find out if you have a land preditor, you might try a live trap. Most cities offer then for the removal of racoons and other night stalkers.

As to the plants - have you tried to band them together? those silly little bands that have a square opening thingy and you slide the end thru it and bring it up tight. The sq.thingy keep it from opening back up.... anyway a small hole in the edge of each pot and connected to the next would keep them together and upright.

Hope you find out soon!
diggery
14 years ago
A black rubber bungi cord around the grouping of plants might be easier =]

I'll keep the plants upright at least til you resolve the bigger predator issue.
pikecoe
14 years ago
Pezabell, your thingy with the square opening thingy are called nylon straps. LOL I like your discription though and probably more people would know what you are talking about than they would know "nylon straps"..

Pond Disturbance - Please, Not the Net

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