I have a Blue Herron fishing in the mornings. Who knows how many fish he's gotten. Recently stocked some Bluegill and fatheads. Hope I have some left. Help! Any suggestions?

Lead at high velocities?

Non-lethal would be stringing fishing line from stakes in areas that it likes to frequent.

While they don't eat as many fish as cormorants (water turkeys) they really can do some damage to spawning fish in shallow water, and any larger fish that swim by.

I don't know if Wi. requires you to have a permit to permanently remove them like Indiana does.

I heard that they are allergic to lead when delivered at high velocities.

Does anyone know if the Blue Heron decoy that the Pond Guy sells works?

I did not tell you this but I have known a guy that ties a lead sinker to some pretty strong mono and a floating fish imitation lure, like a floating Rapala. Leaves it in there where the herons feed about 6 inches underwater. Sometimes shallower. I've seen a goldfish lure also. That one does not have hooks. But treble hooks can be put into it, I would think. Heron and lure seem to go away long term.

I'd actually rather have these graceful critters stealing my fish, than the poachers who steal my game cameras, who are drunk and obnoxious, and who do even more damage to my pond balance.

As far as two legged fish stealers go, I am with you Ken... I would much rather have the winged type than the drunk human type.

Here is what some type of heron did to one of my fish.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-a...1_1826503_n.jpg

Ah, the Long Legged Blue Devil. Haven't seen them this year yet, but I'm sure they'll be back once the water receeds.

Like Scot says this is a worthwhile option and is not as difficult as it sounds. You don't need that many stakes and you simply run mono from stake to stake around the pond a about 2 1/2 feet off the water. The idea is, since a heron does not land on the water like ducks and geese, but wades in, he will be frustrated and prevented from fishing in the pond. Another option is an electric fence if you like to watch a heron do a break dance.



It's not actually the state that regulates this but the feds. The bird is a federally regulated and protected bird just like other waterfowl. A permit cost $100.00 and you have to be using all nonlethal methods at your disposal first. I doubt they would give a permit to a recreational pond owner though.



Just don't get caught or tell anyone if you go this route. Since it's a federally protected bird you can get fined severely.

I think they may be protected in Wisconsin!

I have some redwing blackbirds nesting in a little patch of cattails from last year.Every time a heron lands by the pond the blackbirds go nuts and give it a beak to the back of the head and away goes the heron. On the downside the samething happens when I walk by.

Of all the options I must say that I think the fishhook idea is pretty disgusting. Please just shoot the bird if you are considering torturing it with encouraging it to swallow a few treble hooks. I would use a 12-gauge shotgun with steel shot. Don't brag about it at the bar. The fishing line idea sounds like a good one too. Great blue herons are beautiful birds and I hope I never see one choking on a $4 rapala. When in doubt: shoot, shovel, and shut-up. Sorry Pond Frog, I think that your idea is awful, no offense.

the decoy is a good concept--i've also been wondering if I want one. They say the blue herons are territorial and won't go near each other. It's an aesthetic $30 solution to at least try.

The problem I have is the little green heron, not the big blue heron. The little green heron is more agile and can get into my small pond whereas the big blue needs more space to land.

The little green is kinda fun so I don't really want to scare him off. He's pretty scared of me anyway and flies off whenever he sees me. Just poaching minnows I'd guess.

The Decoy is on sale at"The Pond Guy" for $24.95 My Herron keeps eating my fish

Don't apologize to me, you have feelings for herons. I do not. I can't stand them. I have seen them needlessly spear too many fish and frogs they can't even eat, and leave them speared, dying on the shore. And in a season this may happen 100's of times. Besides that, I have also seen them cause thousands of dollars of damage to koi ponds. I am normally a live and let live guy. They don't, and my job is to protect my customers ponds, and fish as assets. I have a zero tolerence program that I implement with extreme prejudice. If I could legally put a red dot on any poachers head and end it that way I do. I don't get my kicks from being cruel to animals. My business is giving my customers happiness fishing and enjoying thier ponds. Not letting them see mortally wounded fish wiggling to death on the shore drying out in the sun. Business is business.

Don't be fooled by the asuumption of awkwardness. A GBH can gracefully land on a dime. No runway or landing room needed except enough space to flap his wings.

+1

I was recently fishing a small trout lake in Northern Wisconsin and observed a heron there. It perched in a tree, which I have never seen a heron do before. If a heron can land on a tree branch, I'd imagine that it can land pretty much anywhere. They can also fly incredibly slowly, really taking their time to look for a good spot.


I wonder how difficult it would be to rig up a float rapala (de-hooked) to some line and an alarm. Somthing like this, for herons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aYDWf5JKYo

Or make one of these, if there is only a small area suitable for herons and you have a water line at the pond:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdYc86AA8M0

G blue herons, Canadian Geese, Green Herons, Osprey, Mergansers, Mink. Most eat our fish, one craps all over the place. They all qualify as nuisances...if I decide they are. I'm fortunate in that I am not as concerned about the pond contents as much as I am concerned about the entire package, above and below the water. Finding the correct balance of control and the effective ways to implement balanced control are the most I could ever hope for. In the meantime, if I don't like what M Nature has sent to my pond to party, I should probably stay home.
Now, having said all this, I still fear the appearance of an otter or beaver, and know that someday I will have to deal with it. In the meantime, tho, I try not to sweat the smaller stuff.
The operative word here is "try" not to sweat the smaller stuff...

They land atop a 4 x 4 post in our pond

My problem with the otter, herons, and grebes is appearances. I am managing ponds or supposed to be. I am at least compensated to do so. It appears I am not doing my job when they run or fly amok. The damage they cause is bad on all fronts. When they maim and don't kill a fish it turns into fungus fish, barely swimming under the surface, covered with gray fungus, dying a slow and lingering death. Or the carcasses strewn on the shore, fish I have spent countless hours cultivating, only to be wasted for nothing on the shore. I have even refused jobs where residents wanted the otters to hang out because they were so cute and cuddly looking. And they of course want excellent fishing also. Hey, you can't have both. It is a little different when you own your own pond and can say, no sweat, it does not bother me. But when you are getting paid to manage the situation, people or customers expect results. Poppers, bottle rockets and noisemakers are only good for a few instances, then the birds figure out, I'm not hurt, and learn to ignore them. The point is I would let them have thier share if they ate what they caught and I did not appear to not be doing what I am paid for. They force my hand, and I do what my customers expect, and don't want to know how or why.

I kinda took you for a mink guy? I love their presence in my pond - hopefully helping cull my muskrat population of which I've successfully trapped ZERO animals! Argh!

This makes sense to me as a business developer...you are compensated based on your ability to provide pond and fishery management solutions. When a vector prevents you from reaching goals outlined by your client, you need to be ready to offer solutions or change the strategy or you'll be looking for a new customers continually. I don't see how one can satisfy the responsibility to feed your family and only offer "organic" or "humane" solutions unless they are equally effective. You can become a peta volunteer or be a pond management professional - but I don't see a successful business resulting from the combination of both disciplines. Maybe I'm missing something, however...wouldn't be the first or last time - WHOOSH!

Why not just put a red dot on a Ruger 10/22? Probably a great tool for muskrat cull.

I have never SEEN one, only their tunnels...sneaky rats. Smarter than I am at this point in the game...I may need to call in the pros.

Wiley creatures - discouraged 9 since March

I used to detest the herons. Yes I've had some large valuable fish skewered too. But I won't apply for the $100.00 Fish and Wildlife permits or shoot them anymore. Why? There are nonlethal ways to discourage them and I would hope I'm smarter then they are. Killing them is only a short term solution until the next one shows up. It's like thinking you're going to eliminate flies by swatting them. It's just a never ending destructive process. And the process of eradicating them is wasted time i could be using for more productive endeavors. I also detest killing any amimal unless it's absolutely necessary. I guess I'm getting sentimental in my old age.

Additionally if you resort to just shooting them, most likely you will have one visit and do destruction when you're not around. I can assure you they can show up on a moonlit night while you're fast asleep. Been there done that.

My stakes and lines work for me 24/7. No dead birds, wasted time, and best of all no dead fish. I may even try and electric fence sometime.

If i was a recreational pond owner I wouldn't be concerned at all. I'd just enjoy their presence. Most of the time your larger healthy fish will be in too deep of water for them. Other than spawning time if a large bass or bluegill is hanging around in shallow water there is something wrong with them. Many times sick fish get speared by a heron and he gets the blame when the fish was on the way out anyway.

It's your smaller more abundant fish they are after. I once had a pond owner complain about the damn herons eating his fish, but in the same breath he complained about his stunted 3 to 5 inch bluegills. Go figure.

They eat snakes, mice, moles, and rats too. I started to have a problem with five star moles that hang around my waterline and do more damage than muskrats. And terrestrial crayfish that were digging up my yard. Guess what? After laying off the herons it seems their numbers are down.

Appreciate as always your take on the issue, Cecil. You make some points that hit home in my scenario - I think the GBH are only taking my GSH and since my pondweed explosion I'm seeing far fewer signs of their presence than the last two years. Guess they have left for easier pickings as my vegetation probably presents some major issues in their hunting efforts. I haven't seen fresh tracks or their scat around the pond for several weeks.

That's right, we didn't have time for any lessons, did we? I'll have plenty of time between Oct. 30th and Jan. 31st....

In case it was not clear, I was referring to muskrats.

Herons are, like most birds, Federally protected. So, if any accidents happen, don't post the results of the accident here or anywhere else.

I would feel bad if I knew someone that had an accident with a heron. And my customers would remain blissfully ignorant. But please do not take me for kill em all let God sort them out Frog. I go out of my way to take care of species I see at my ponds, even those I don't want. For emample Garter snakes. They are super frog killers. But not that difficult to catch. I have a critter container, normally carry it in my truck just in case. I catch them, get all stinky, and relocate them to a nature reserve creek area by my home.

Several times this season while mowing cattails I have come across active bird nests. Mainly coots and blackbirds. I actually leave them completely alone. Last week I was cutting back cattails and my son said there is a nest with a baby bird in it. We cut around it and left the stand and nest there. And I am under contract to cut this stuff down. I just explain to the customer and normally they are appreciative as long as I come back when the nest is empty and do my job.

The geese are another issue. Dam poop machines. Really bad. Even if I bottle rocket or popper them away I usually see them back later in the day or next week. If I could capture and relocate to a safe haven any animal or bird I would. Well, maybe not muskrats.

Do Heron Decoys Work?

Concept, Herons are territorial and will bypass a pond where they see another heron. Reality, they get it figured out pretty quick, hey this is not a real bird. I have seen them feeding right next to them. As far as decoys one of the most realistic and working I have seen are the coyotes, not Wile E. Not much lands around them, ever.