Automatic garden sprinklers work very well for cats, dogs, and even herons. Cats and herons in particular like to hunt prey slowly and silently, so any sudden movement will give them a scare. Automatic sprinklers can be fitted around the perimeter of your garden pond where herons like to fish, and they will automatically detect the bird’s movement and start spraying out water when it gets close.

Fallen leaves are often considered just a visual problem, but not removing them before they have a chance to sink can cause all sorts of issues. As leaves and other organic matter sink to the bottom of your pond, they begin to decompose and contribute to sludge. During the decomposition process bacteria break down the waste and compounds are released into the pond that can harm fish and promote the overgrowth of algae. A great heron and cat deterrent which provides pond fish a safe hiding place at the bottom of your pond. Koi and goldfish shelters are designed to sit naturally on the pond floor and blend into the surroundings, helping to hide signs of fish. If you have a pond with nowhere for fish to hide, they’ll become very stressed every time a heron visits, even if the heron is unsuccessful at catching any fish.If your fish pond is close to surrounding foliage, such as trees or bushes, or if you have predatory birds or cats in the area, then installing a pond net is highly recommended.

An ideal resolution here is to invest in some pond plants or caves, where your fish can take refuge if a predator comes nearby.

In terms of deterring snakes, I agree, that’s a tough one. Since they like to hide away in nooks and crannies very close to water, closing off as many hiding spots as possible around the pond may help prevent them from hanging around, but I doubt this would keep them away all together. Your advise of simply keeping a close eye on your pond everyday, as well as monitoring fish for injuries and unusual behaviour, is likely the best way in most situations to determine if a predator is present. Reply Although pond cover nets are a great deterrent for birds, some animals take more persuading that your pond fish are not on the menu!

Overall, an interesting heron solution that may be worth a try in smaller ponds, but we would only really recommend this method when all other deterrents have failed. Product Inspection Approval for all ponds, private home ponds, Schools, care homes, adoption and foster carers ponds etc Decoys rely on the idea that herons are solitary feeders and do not like eating in the company of other herons, so the fake heron should be enough to stop a real heron landing and feeding. This generally works very well for herons not used to the surroundings, but most herons will grow more bold over time and eventually begin to figure out the decoy isn’t a threat. Benefits of Quality Pond Netting Pond netting helps trap debris and also deters predators, such as herons.Unlike other deterrents which become less effective as a heron gets used to seeing it, pond netting creates a physical barrier that often stops herons before they’re able to get within striking distance. We recommend netting as a foundation to heron control, as it can be combined with various other deterrents for maximum protection from predators. Keeping leaves and other plant debris out of your pond has long challenged gardeners and fish enthusiasts but our Pond Covers provide the perfect solution.

Our pond covers range has been carefully designed to provide stylish, yet practical protection for garden ponds from both un-wanted predators and falling leaves. A more heavy duty pond netting by Dewitt, which offers increased strength due to it’s knitted 1/4″ mesh design. While most netting is usually constructed with 3/4″ and 3/8″ mesh, Dewitt’s much smaller holes means it can be bound much tighter together, increasing its overall durability. The finer mesh design also helps with much smaller debris collection, being able to catch both very small and very large objects falling into the pond.

Often pond owners attribute their fish dying over winter to the cold, but it’s more commonly caused by buildup of sludge (waste) which has been left to decompose and build to dangerous levels. During this process, oxygen levels in the pond drop, and harmful ammonia and nitrite levels rise, which places a huge amount of stress on pond fish. Our range of pond protection equipment and products has been carefully selected to help you protect your pond from potential predators and prevent unwanted debris getting into your garden pond. If you have a pond with no natural cover, especially if the pond is shallow, we recommend a fish shelter as this will make hunting much harder for predators. As they won’t directly deter herons, fish shelters are best mixed with other deterrents, such as pond netting, decoys, or automatic repellers (water or sound). Garden Ponds are attractive to Herons because they often provide them with very easy fishing. Some form of pond protection is vital if you have fish in your pond and you would prefer not to receive these un-wanted visitors.