SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF DISAPPEARING POND FISH

 EGRETS AND RATS IN MY POND

If you keep an outdoor pond, you may have faced a puzzling and frustrating problem: your fish start disappearing without a trace. A reader recently shared this exact concern, and the advice given remains just as relevant today for any pond owner.

The Reader's Problem: A Pond Culprit; "I have lost a few medium-sized goldfish recently: they just disappeared from my pond. My house guard tells me that an egret often sits on my house roof and that a rat occasionally takes a swim in the pond. I wonder who could be the culprit."

The Usual Suspects: Egrets, Rats, or Herons?
The investigation into the disappearing fish looked at two main suspects:

1. Egrets: While not commonly known as fish predators, an ornithologist confirmed that "the egret has been known to take fish," especially those near the water's surface.

Source: andreattawaterscapes.com

2. Rats: The idea of a rat eating a live fish in the water was largely dismissed. It was noted that "house rats only get into water either due to fright during an escape or due to ignorance," and that a swimming experience is something most rats would not want to repeat.

The Most Likely Culprit: The Heron
The expert pointed to a more probable predator: the heron. "I believe your problem is much more likely to be heron," explaining that these birds are venturing into urban areas as their natural habitats disappear.

The warning was clear: "A single heron can soon clear a whole fish farm of fish once it discovers fish ponds." Herons are skilled, efficient fishers, and a garden pond represents an easy meal for them.


Source: PngTree

Effective Solutions to Protect Your Pond

1. Netting Your Pond: "Your only remedy may be to net your pond over completely." This advice is to create a ridge-tent effect by raising the net in the center, which is more effective than a flat net that merely obscures vision.

Source: thepondguy.com

2. Pond Design: A good long-term deterrent is pond design. "Deep ponds with straight sheer sides are rarely troubled by visiting herons who do not stand in water that is much more than two feet deep." This makes it difficult for the wading birds to access the fish.

Source: The Spruce

If your fishes are vanishing, look to the skies before blaming ground-dwelling pests. A heron is often the prime suspect. By understanding the behavior of these predators, you can take proactive steps like strategic netting or thoughtful pond design to keep your fish safe and secure.


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