BonniesPlants.com

Hi Folks,
Well this morning I went out to feed my fish I had 12 some Koi, shubumkins and goldfish.
I think I'm down to one...I'm thinking it was a raccoon but not sure we do have a stray cat in the area but the cat has been by my yard before and never bothered with the pond.
I have netting I could try.
Has anyone had this happen before...I'm sure you have my question is what signs are there around the pond that a Ra coon has visited?? The only thing that I noticed was up by my stream that feeds into the small waterfall is that some small stones were shifted a little bit.
Really bummed here in PA.
Jane

Coons will leave tell-tale scales behind. They chew their prey at the waters edge. A Heron will just gulp them down.

Do Heron feed at night like coons?
Jane

Thank you Teresa ...I have netting that I'm thinking about using to cover the pond with however, I have cattails and loofestrife that stick up out of the water about 12 - 18 inches so how do I get the net around them and still have it be affective ? Is there a way or do you cover the plants and all??
Thanks again,
Jane

Not a raccoon or cat. Raccoon does lots of damage catching the fish. Ditto on a cat

HERON. They most frequently come around dawn and dusk and have been known to come in the day. They never forget where they got their last meal and will come back until there is nothing to eat.

I bet you have a shallow part in the pond. They do not land on water. They land on the ground and wade into shallow parts. They actually excrete an oil from their feet that attracts fish to them. Ask any fisherman how long they will stand in the water and wait for the fish to come to them. Literally hours!

Netting may help but they have been known to poke their beak through netting and still get the fish

Running a hot wire around the pond perimeter just a few inches off the ground it enough of a jolt to keep them away. You have to remember to unplug it if you are working near the pond!

I would guess the heron has made many trips to your pond that went undetected until you noticed they were all gone.


One other bird IF the fish are smaller than 6 inches is a kingfisher. A small diving bird a little bigger than a blue jay. I always hear them before I see them because they have a distinct call.

I am truly sorry, it is a heart breaking situation.

Bonnie

after the blue heron grabbed my big female right in front of me and i ran out of the house to go and choke it It seemed like the bird just stuck out it's tounge and flew away when I got to within 3 feet of it. Having a new knee replacemnt didn't help me to run faster to get "the dirty bird" So I placed fishing string (mono filiment) and zig zaged it across the pond, it doesn't affect the beauty of the pond like a net. which protects better. it is kinda funny the bird hits it and bounces off as they don't see it. but..... it caught up one seagull and I had to unravell it and those things bite like crazy. I haven't ever seen a gull around my home after that. then they have the "scarecrow" which is use to give the critter a good burst of water to scare it away. the small electric fence that bonnie was talking about . my friend uses that one and the one racoon we saw got a good surprise. but like she said you have to remember to unplug it when you are near the pond. the poke you get smarts. Most of my other friends use the fishing line to go across the pond I'll try to get a pic for you so you can see it. My pond is still in the making so my guys are same in my basement for now.

Thanks for the ideas...my fish are about 5-6 inches as my pond was new this spring and I started off with small fish.
I have been out there all morning working on the pond I drained it about 2/3 of the way because I wasn't sure of the damage turns out it was a smaller kill than originally thought I have half left. Still makes me so upset. I do have a question, my fish are all hiding down on the bottom they go under or as close to some rocks I can't even get them to come up and eat they get excited and start circling but will only come up so far and then go back into hiding...is this normal? They are in the deepest part of about 3 foot of water.
Thanks again,
Jane

with the problem that was going on they will definatley hide and not come up for a few even for food. they will wait for it to fall to them. there is a fish tunnel to help protect fish so they can hide if needed. it helps them feel safe. it will take a couple of days for things to return to normal... but if the thing that is helping itself to your fish come back they will keep hiding

Jane, Laura is correct, they are spooked. If the bird stays away, the fish will eventually come around. It is their instinct to hide when scared.

I would not rule out kingfisher either then since you fish are kingfisher size fish. There may also be other predator birds local to your area that I am not aware of.

Do an INTERNET search for kingfisher call. There is one on line somewhere. Listen to it several times. You almost always hear them before you see them and they call (prattle is what it is called) before they dive.

I kept my doors and windows open all warm weather so I could hear their call...

They are fast, in the water and out in seconds. They generally perch somewhere above the pond with the fish in its mouth after it leaves the pond

Imagine my horror when I saw a very expensive show koi I bought for breeding sitting on a telephone pole near the pond with my newly quarantined show koi in its mouth! Not a darn thing I could do but cuss and scream and then cry. The darn bugger called out to me as he flew away with my fish.

Not to make a joke but this is a sad story. Years ago I corresponded with a fellow in Ohio about herons. He has spent the entire winter building a gorgeous bridge for his pond. Nicest looking piece of wood working I have ever seen. All kinds of fancy saw and scrolling woodworking.

He had trouble with heron and decide to take a shot gun to the heron and missed and hit the bridge and put huge hole it the bridge.

Herons are protected so please do not shoot them. Fines, if caught shooting or harming them can be very stiff. It is hard to not be angry at them, they are only doing what they know how to do and that is look for food.

One other thought, I helped a fellow in SC that had an owl taking his fish at night. He actually witnessed it. He strung fishing line in the trees, criss-crossing the pond many times. End of owl problem and fishing line, especially up high can not be seen.

Bonnie

Just thought I'd post an update..yesterday I spent my morning and early afternoon on the pond.
Bonnie I listened very well while I was outside and later in the day and this morning heard a king fisher he was in the neighbors taller trees in the back I couldn't see it but I heard it.
My son and I put a net over the pond yesterday and it looks much better than I thought it would.
We cut small X's in the netting to pull over the plants just enough for the stems to get through and it is tucked neatly under the rocks. I will try and post a picture than.
I still have all remaining fish this morning and the net isn't disturbed (yet) hopefully this will discourage them from trying.
I tried feeding again this morning but only one came up to feed, however yesterday in the later afternoon the fish were swimming around like usual. I guess it will take a little while.
I feel much better getting this net on and wish I would have tried this earlier.
Thanks for all the help and kindness.
Jane

So happy to be able to help. Glad things are looking up for you Jane.

I was so plagued with kingfishers on my mind that I swore I heard that call at night in my sleep and would actually get up and look out the windows in the dark. It is so distinct that once you hear it, you never forget it.

It amazes me how such a small bird can get such a large fish out of the pond!

I still hear the call and look out the window to see it but they can not get any fish out of my pond because my smallest is around 18 inches now and the largest are over 30. But the dang bird still comes by.

Two years ago we removed the netting from the pond and only put it back on in the to catch the leaves. It was a glorious day for me.

The other fish will come around once they feel secure again and it will happen fairly quick

Bonnie

the nets that they have are nice now and easy to work with. I'm glad all your fish will be safe. I haven't seen any king fishers yet. I did go onto a web site and heard that call, and that is something that you wouldn't soon forget. but looking out the window and seeing what looks like a tall man standing in your yard is an unbelieveble site. every now and then I still see that man standing there. and see my girl going down its throat she was big about 12" that won't happend with the new pond

Oh my!
I still think of the emails over the years.

The lady who threw rotten tomatoes at the "bird"

The guy who was bring in a tank truck with bazookas on it

The lady where the bird chased her right back up on her porch and into her house

On another note we had a heron in the greenhouse. We have a natural pond at the back of the woods behind our property so I see herons flying over all the time. One was walking around the back yard and I asked Rich if he thought it would go in the greenhouse. His reply was no, there is only one way in and one way out, the front door. Only one door on the greenhouse

The next morning Rich went into the greenhouse and there was the heron standing in a 650 gallon stock tank feasting away. Rich grab a a huge fish net and swung at it. It hopped out and went in the corner under the furnace. Greenhouses have hanging furnaces from the "ceiling". He swung at it again and the heron ducked out under the rolled up sides on the greenhouse.

We spent the rest of the day in the greenhouse putting netting on all the tanks.

Sammy does a good job chasing them off our property now as did our 125 pound male rottenweiller. We were without a dog for over a year after Molsen passed away of cancer.

Bonnie