So my dad decided to take apart my pond because he didn't like the placement and it has been empty for awhile. We have a huge problem with predators. I have found raccoons swimming in the pond, cranes pecking at fish, and even hawks a couple of times. So what do you guys think is the best option to take for the new pond? The old one was using liners and natural looking rocks with a waterfall
Predators?
- Thread starter shua71
- Start date
Muske;3703333; said:
Would doing just that help? Cause it seems like the cranes would be able to snatch a few before they realize that they need to hide
You have cranes in L.A.? Just kidding! The only "crane" experience that I have is when me and my buddies crack on the Kirkanator for grosely under working the lower body in his intense weightlifting workout! A real life Johnny Bravo!
Just be thankful that you do not have blue heron. It would clear you out in nothing flat.
It looks ugly, but that diamond cut "stucko base sheets" used as a cover keeps everything including racoons and even snakes out of your pond!
Just be thankful that you do not have blue heron. It would clear you out in nothing flat.
It looks ugly, but that diamond cut "stucko base sheets" used as a cover keeps everything including racoons and even snakes out of your pond!
Hmmm, It could've been cranes or herons. I'm unsure but one day I looked into my pond after school and about 20 fishes were gone. The pond was one of those designs where the left had a huge circle maybe 3 ft deep while the right had a smaller one that was about 2. The birds could easily stand in there because the center was only about 6 inches deep. The raccoons would just take a swim in there. So basically the only way is to cover up the pond? I used to have tons of water lilies but they didn't help much.
2-3 foot depth + lillies should be fine.
The center with only 6" of depth is were the fish are getting caught. Herons will stay motionless until they can strike. If nobody scares them away the will stay and come back. Next time, do a motion detector sprinkler and place a fake heron by the pond. The word on the street is Herons are territorial and will not visit a pond already occuppied (not the case w/my father-in-laws pond). A lot of surface aggitation can help too. The only time i every had an avian visitor is when i did some repairs on my pond and the filters were off for a few days. Once the falls went back on, the birds never came back. They would sit on my neighbors garage and look at the pond a couple of times, but never any attacks.
I also have two dogs that patrol the yard. I keep them outside in early spring and late fall when the lillies are not yet on the surface or have died back for the season. I use schedule 40 PVC fittings as cover when the plants aren't kicking. No losses to predators in 4 years. The raccoons seem to like the bread set out for the birds more than fish. I went to take out the garbage Mon. and a huge raccoon was sitting on a pallet of pavers just looking at me. He didn't even get scared away until I approched and was 2-3 feet away.
The center with only 6" of depth is were the fish are getting caught. Herons will stay motionless until they can strike. If nobody scares them away the will stay and come back. Next time, do a motion detector sprinkler and place a fake heron by the pond. The word on the street is Herons are territorial and will not visit a pond already occuppied (not the case w/my father-in-laws pond). A lot of surface aggitation can help too. The only time i every had an avian visitor is when i did some repairs on my pond and the filters were off for a few days. Once the falls went back on, the birds never came back. They would sit on my neighbors garage and look at the pond a couple of times, but never any attacks.
I also have two dogs that patrol the yard. I keep them outside in early spring and late fall when the lillies are not yet on the surface or have died back for the season. I use schedule 40 PVC fittings as cover when the plants aren't kicking. No losses to predators in 4 years. The raccoons seem to like the bread set out for the birds more than fish. I went to take out the garbage Mon. and a huge raccoon was sitting on a pallet of pavers just looking at me. He didn't even get scared away until I approched and was 2-3 feet away.