Your Guide to Stopping Herons
Follow our guide on how to stop them;
1. Stop access to water surface
Solution: Netting can provide a cost-effective heron-proof solution if planned and maintained. A heron can put its neck through small mesh, so the netting must have small mesh size (2.5cm to make sure it is small enough not to trap the bird), or be at least 60cm above the water (or use a floating net). The net also needs to be kept taut to prevent herons weighing it down.
A barrier made of wire, two lengths of polypropylene twine, or an obvious ‘ribbon’ can be effective in the right situation (see heron fence in store in electric & non-electric versions). The barrier must be at the very edge of the pond or the heron will land inside the fence.
2. Block the sightlines as herons need to be able to see danger coming
Solution: Consider growing tall shrubs or emergent plants at the edges of open ponds, or building a bank to make it more enclosed. Concentrate particularly on screening the edge(s) most often used by a heron for arrival and departure. The plants will benefit the fish and any wildlife using the pond.
3. Higher banks as herons like to walk into the water from the bank and fish while wading
Solution: If building a pond from scratch consider making the sides vertical, but remember that these will need reinforcing or they will cave in.
Also, a pond with vertical sides will be less attractive to other forms of wildlife. Hedgehogs can fall into straight-sided ponds, and unless there is a means of escape, they will drown, so careful consideration is needed before you build a straight-sided pond.
If changing the bank profile of an existing pond is impractical, position a chain of net floats (net floats available in store).
4. Lower water levels make fishing from the pond edges harder
Solution: If you can control the water level, keep it at least 60 cm below the top of the bank. Combining low water levels with vertical sides to the pond can be effective.
5. Fountains makes the fish harder to see
Solution: A spray of water (as from a fountain) will make seeing fish difficult, (although it is unlikely to protect the entire surface of the pond - unless your pond is small and your fountain very vigorous!).
6. Cover pond with vegetation for fish to hide
Solution: Vegetation provides natural cover for fish and helps to oxygenate the water. In ponds where this is not possible, or as temporary extra seasonal cover, consider using artificial lily pads that can be secured around the edges of the pond.
Lots of heron deterrents available in store
We have lots of deterrents available including decoy herons (move daily when herons are active), reflectors (herons are solitary, so do not come where there are thought to be other herons), and even laser guards (which emit sound & laser light to protect high value fish).
