Learn How To Protect Your Fish From Predators

Outdoor ponds are so beautiful in a garden, especially with the addition of some colorful koi fish. But the last thing any pond keeper wants is to have predators swooping in at night and snatching up those prized fish! In this article, learn about the more common pond predators and how you can protect your fish from these usual suspects.

Common Predators

Many pond owners can attest to having seen a heron or two sneaking around their pond, or might even have caught them in action at some point. Herons tend to migrate when it gets cold, but before they do, they are on the prowl for well-fed, slow-moving fish, and ponds offer the best easy meals for them. A hunting heron wades slowly or stands still like a statue to stalk fish and frogs in shallow water. It can hunt day or night, as it has excellent night vision.

If you live in an area with raccoons, you would want to be very careful – raccoons can completely destroy a pond. It is an omnivore and a formidable predator which eats absolutely anything; fish, snails, frogs, plants, you name it.

While the garter snake is less often seen, if a garter snake happens to be around your pond, it certainly spells trouble. The garter snake, while harmless to humans, eats almost any animal in its vicinity which it is able to catch, and it swallows frogs and fish alike whole.

Avoid Attracting Them To Your Pond

The first thing you want to avoid is leaving bait lying around to attract these predators! Keep pet food out of the way, stored in air tight containers. Clear any tall grass or undergrowth where they might be able to hide. And if there are rodents, there may be snakes, so make sure you stay pest-free in all senses.

Let Your Fish Hide

Providing hiding places for your fish to duck away from predators is a good idea. Pond plants, like water lilies, provide excellent hiding places, as do certain well-placed rocks, or even a drain pipe at the bottom of your pond.

Net Your Pond

While not the most aesthetically appealing solution, many pond keepers have resorted to a net, which is likely the most effective method of keeping pond pests at bay. Some people net their ponds only at night, when no one is around to ensure pests stay away. There are even mechanical devices that automatically net your pond at sundown, and open it up again when the sun is up.

Capture Those Pests

For raccoons, mink, or muskrats, the best thing to do is to trap them using bait, capture them, and relocate them far away from your pond. This is particularly important for mink, which are primarily fish eaters, and unlike other predators, will slaughter all the fish at one go and stockpile them for future consumption. If you see a mink, you would want to capture it quickly before it gets to your pond and makes a meal out of all your fish!