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I have been checking on the Internet
on ways to prevent a large blue heron from eating my koi.
I was told the best solution would be to put a Heron Decoy
in the pond but I am reading this is not the solution. My
pond is 35' x 70' and approximately 3-4 ft. deep in the center.
The koi tend to hide in the center at times but this Heron
seems to be just waiting. Last year (my pond was new) I had
put 3 koi (about 7" in size) in my pond to see how they would
do. After about 3 weeks they were gone. This year I was given
three new koi and they are doing great and have had about
20 babies. The pond is large enough to handle the number of
koi but I am on the constant lookout for the Heron.
What is the best decoy for Heron?
Thanks for your help!
Angela, I hate to tell you this, but there are no good
decoys for herons. These are big, smart and largely
fearless birds. The best defense in the long run is
good pond design, with no shallow areas for the bird
to wade in, and enough tall stuff around the edges to
limit its area of opportunity for verge hunting.
Netting the pond with a poly house framework is
effective, as are free-running terrier type dogs. A
cougar or similar feral cat would also work, but
carries its own risks.
A friend of mine (who shall be nameless) had a heron
problem he solved with a few sleepless nights and a
paintball gun. He liked the fluorescent yellow paint
best. Said it set off the light blue of the heron just
fine. The velocity is enough to sting and deter, not
enough to wound or maim.
Heron statues are simply ignored if they do not move,
water sprays are avoided, and scarecrows are laughed
at. One of our members caught a sandhill crane doing a
mating dance in front of hers. She had no information
about the scarecrow's response.
Bob Passovoy
President
MPKS
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