QuestionI have a Heron that has just discovered my pond. It has eaten all of the biggest and prettiest goldfish, just ate a 13 year old golden moore. How do I protect my pond without putting ugly and intrusive netting over it??
AnswerI'm sorry about your fish. I've been where you are a few years back. I decided to use a net over the deep half of my pond most of the year. The pond is fully netted in the fall. It's not ideal but it has saved losing more fish. There are other methods to deter herons. I have a list of them at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/pmamm.htm#deter and http://www.fishpondinfo.com/birds.htm#heron
They now also have electric fences but that only works if the heron walks in. They can land right in the water although they prefer not to. You can try motion detectors that make noises or squirt water, electric fences, fake herons, pond dogs, and so on but I'll stick with my net. Good luck!
Robyn